Essay length?

BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

This topic has expert replies

Post new topic Locked

Previous Topic Next Topic

Sadowski: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 91; Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:08 am; Location: Durham, NC; Thanked: 1 times

Essay length?

by Sadowski » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:54 pm

I started practicing for the AWA argument section yesterday. I'm slowly getting the hang of it, but I feel like my essays are too short. On average they're 250-300 words in 4 paragraphs. Any thoughts?

Quote

Source: Beat The GMAT — GMAT Essays (AWA) | Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:54 pm

GMAT/MBA Expert

beatthegmat: Site Admin; Posts: 6778; Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:30 am; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 1249 times; Followed by:994 members

Re: Essay length?

by beatthegmat » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:39 pm

Sadowski wrote:I started practicing for the AWA argument section yesterday. I'm slowly getting the hang of it, but I feel like my essays are too short. On average they're 250-300 words in 4 paragraphs. Any thoughts?

Officially, it's really all about quality of your writing, not length. However, I've heard a rumor (probably a myth) that the E-rater tends to score lengthier essays higher. I took tihs rumor to heart when I prepped, and aimed for closer to 350 words on the real thing...

Beat The GMAT | The MBA Social Network
Community Management Team

Research Top GMAT Prep Courses:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-courses

Research The World's Top MBA Programs:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/school

Quote

beny: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 214; Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:35 am; Thanked: 3 times

by beny » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:55 pm

I don't think it's a myth - I read a study by the Princeton Review that stated length was the most important factor in the AWA score. I totaled about 750 words on my practice AWAs and hit around the same length for my actual AWA. Got a 6.