Analytical Writing Assessment

Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Section

The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section of the GMAT assesses the GMAT test taker's ability to critically analyze a situation or argument and effectively and efficiently communicate in English written form.

AWA Structure

In the Analytical Writing Assessment section of the GMAT, the GMAT test taker is presented with two essay topics, one of which requires an Analysis of an Argument and the other of which requires an Analysis of an Issue. The GMAT test taker is given 30 minutes for each essay to read and understand the essay topic and related questions, brainstorm a response and finally type and submit an essay into the testing computer.

The GMAT test taker may only use standard American English characters when writing and submitting Analytical Writing Assessment essay responses.

AWA Topics

Topics presented for both Analysis of an Argument and Analysis of an Issue are designed to relate to subject matters which are supposed to be of "general interest." That is, no topic presented in the Analytical Writing Assessment section presupposes any specific knowledge of a given topic and every matter should be able to be easily understood by the GMAT test taker without regard to their personal and professional background. Some topics in the Analytical Writing Assessment section of the GMAT are business related, while other topics draw from a wide variety of non-business related subjects.

A list of more than 300 possible Analytical Writing topics used as Analysis of an Argument and Analysis of an Issue prompts is available online at www.mba.com and in The Official Guide for GMAT Review®.

Analysis of an Argument essay

For the Analysis of an Argument essay, the GMAT test taker is presented with and must analyze the underlying reasoning of an argument and provide a critique of the presented argument. The Analysis of an Argument tests the GMAT test taker's ability to efficiently and thoroughly analyze the fundamental reasoning of a given argument and develop a thorough critique of the reasoning of the argument and its validity, including ways in which the strength of the argument could be improved.

Analysis of an Issue essay

For the Analysis of an Issue essay, the GMAT test taker is provided and must analyze an issue or opinion and explain one's agreement or disagreement to that which is provided, using relevant supporting explanation and examples underlying the GMAT test taker's point of view. The Analysis of an Issue tests the GMAT test taker's ability to efficiently and thoroughly analyze the complexities of a given issue or opinion and take a position on such issue or opinion which is supported by an understanding of such complexities.

Scoring of the Analytical Writing Assessment

The Analytical Writing Assessment section of the GMAT is scored on a scale of 0.0 to 6.0 in 0.5 point increments. Analytical Writing Assessment essays are scored completely separately from the rest of the GMAT which results in separate Quantitative, Verbal and Total scores, with the Total score being based only upon the GMAT test taker's combined performance on the Quantitative and Verbal sections.

Analytical Writing Assessment scores are based on the GMAT test taker's: (i) general quality and appropriateness of ideas presented in each essay; (ii) ability to organize, express and develop such ideas; (iii) strength, applicability and quantity of supporting explanations and examples; and (iv) level of control of standard written English.