Hi TCO:

To see how I prepared for AWA, please refer to my blog: https://beatthegmat.blocked/

The people on this forum have posted a lot of great advice on AWAs--please check out the other posts in this forum area.

I didn't spend that much time myself studying for the AWAs. You shouldn't emphasize this section of the GMAT as much as the math or verbal sections--the latter two areas are the ones that really matter to business schools. Nevertheless, it's best to do a few practice AWAs prior to taking your actual GMAT. My recommendation is to do 5-6 Analysis of Issue essays and 5-6 Analysis of Argument essays. Be sure to practice with the official list of AWA topics, found here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/viewtopic.php?t=133

When you are practicing these essays, be sure to do it under timed conditions. The real challenge of these essays is managing your time properly. When I was preparing for AWAs, I tried to structure my 30 minutes for each essay in the following manner:

• 5 minutes for outlining
• 20 minutes for writing
• 5 minutes for proofreading

There is no right or wrong way to use your time for AWAs--this is just one example of a structure that worked particularly well for me.

Also, think about writing out a template for an Analysis of Issue essay and an Analysis of Argument essay. This template can be a general outline or actual text with areas where you can fill in specific information. Writing out a generic template beforehand will help you to quickly outline on your real GMAT, giving you more time to write. The Princeton Review book has some good examples of AWA templates, which you should reference.

Finally, it's rumored that longer essays tend to be scored higher on the GMAT. When you practice your essays try to write essays with 350+ words. I've noticed anecdotally myself that the higher scoring AWA examples tend to be long.

Best of luck!