I took the GMAT a few weeks ago, and got a 6.0 score on the AWA section. Below are some tips that I read about and used for this section:
1. Know what the AWA is testing. It doesn't test your writing style, vocabulary (to some extent), or how much you write. However, the main things it DOES test are: proper grammar, spelling, and overall structure. Use these facts to your advantage.
2. Instead of trying to write a dissertation or an interesting prose (as you would for an essay on your application), you should keep the AWA essay to the bare bones minimum. Think of it like an 8th grade essay (intro, paragraph 1, paragraph 2, conclusion).
3. Keep each body paragraph as simple as possible (i.e. for the argument, pick one reason why the argument is weak and write about it in each paragraph. don't talk about more than 1 specific factor in any paragraph).
4. spend the first few minutes brainstorming ideas (I brainstormed right in window where you type your essay instead of on my scratch pad); maybe like 5 mins or so. Then spend the next 10-15 mins writing, and spend 5 mins or more checking over the whole essay. This means checking that your verbs and nouns agree, that pronouns and nouns agree, checking for spelling errors, etc.
5. Don't rack your brain with the essay! Don't force it either.. both my essays were very simple ones, with an intro, 2 body paragraphs and a conclusion. I couldn't think of a 3rd paragraph topic in either case so I just stuck with 2 and made sure to eliminate any grammatical and spelling errors. Just keep the format simple and you should eliminate most errors right off the bat.
6. Don't use colloquialisms in your essays. I'm not sure how the GMAT graders view this, but in my mind it is better to be safe than sorry, since this is a dumb way to lose points. For example, don't say "a lot".
7. big one - for the argument essay, don't use "I" anywhere. You are not giving your opinion, but rather giving an objective analysis of the argument. (The issue essay is different)
- for the argument essay, I found the best way to look at it is to treat it as a Critical Reasoning question. Read the statement they give you, then identify the conclusion and the premises. Next, decide whether you think the argument is weak (most times this is the case). Your essay should be the answer to the question "which of the following, if true, would most seriously undermine the conclusion to the argument?". each body paragraph should be a separate answer to this question.
1. Know what the AWA is testing. It doesn't test your writing style, vocabulary (to some extent), or how much you write. However, the main things it DOES test are: proper grammar, spelling, and overall structure. Use these facts to your advantage.
2. Instead of trying to write a dissertation or an interesting prose (as you would for an essay on your application), you should keep the AWA essay to the bare bones minimum. Think of it like an 8th grade essay (intro, paragraph 1, paragraph 2, conclusion).
3. Keep each body paragraph as simple as possible (i.e. for the argument, pick one reason why the argument is weak and write about it in each paragraph. don't talk about more than 1 specific factor in any paragraph).
4. spend the first few minutes brainstorming ideas (I brainstormed right in window where you type your essay instead of on my scratch pad); maybe like 5 mins or so. Then spend the next 10-15 mins writing, and spend 5 mins or more checking over the whole essay. This means checking that your verbs and nouns agree, that pronouns and nouns agree, checking for spelling errors, etc.
5. Don't rack your brain with the essay! Don't force it either.. both my essays were very simple ones, with an intro, 2 body paragraphs and a conclusion. I couldn't think of a 3rd paragraph topic in either case so I just stuck with 2 and made sure to eliminate any grammatical and spelling errors. Just keep the format simple and you should eliminate most errors right off the bat.
6. Don't use colloquialisms in your essays. I'm not sure how the GMAT graders view this, but in my mind it is better to be safe than sorry, since this is a dumb way to lose points. For example, don't say "a lot".
7. big one - for the argument essay, don't use "I" anywhere. You are not giving your opinion, but rather giving an objective analysis of the argument. (The issue essay is different)
- for the argument essay, I found the best way to look at it is to treat it as a Critical Reasoning question. Read the statement they give you, then identify the conclusion and the premises. Next, decide whether you think the argument is weak (most times this is the case). Your essay should be the answer to the question "which of the following, if true, would most seriously undermine the conclusion to the argument?". each body paragraph should be a separate answer to this question.
my GMAT debrief: https://www.beatthegmat.com/came-through ... 44327.html
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right, but it will not come near you.
- Psalm 91: 5-7
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right, but it will not come near you.
- Psalm 91: 5-7
