Importance of Analytic Writing Assessment in GMAT

What is the importance of AWA (Analytic Writing Assessment)

Graduate Management Admissions Test or GMAT is a 210 minutes standardized test set  for students who are looking to get admission in MBA programs. This test is projected to assess the potential of students by evaluating  their mathematical, verbal and analytical writing skills. GMAT test, designed to use by the Institutes/Universities of U.S. offering MBA programs, is now used for students to provide admissions globally by more than 1700 universities/institutes. 

The GMAT is organized and govern by Graduate Management Admission Council or GMAC,  which reports the test score to the universities and institutes.

GMAT Test Format  - Time allotted for GMAT test is approximately 210 minutes. The GMAT test seeks to evaluate a student’s capability in 3 broad areas, namely- basic verbal, qualitative or mathematical, and analytical writing skills.

The Overall Importance of the Writing Assessment :- GMAC  do not give writing assessment  scores the same importance that they do to GMAT quantitative and verbal scores. This written assessment is just another way for the business school to judge your communication skills. Most of the institutes suggests that students should spend more time on preparing for the verbal and quantitative sections of  GMAT than  AWA.

The AWA's Two Components :-  The GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) is divided in to two parts each of of 30 minutes. One asks you to examine an argument, and the other asks you to study an issue. These 2 essays can appear in any order when you take the test

Examine of an Argument:

• In this section you must canvass the rationale behind a given argument.
• The main goals are to:
  • To give substitute explanations or antonymous examples that might weaken the conclusion.
  • Evaluate the argument by critiquing it.
  • Discuss the logical flaws of the argument.
  • Provide facts that may strengthen or refute the argument.
• This section measures your potential to formulate a suitable and practical review of an argument using a specific reason.

Study an Issue:

• This section defines your potential to investigate the complexities of an issue.
• In this section you must examine an issue that is in front of you.
• To explain your way of thinking on a controversial issue.
• Expected to put  reasons or examples from real life experiences

The Analytic Writing Assessment is scored differently than the Verbal and Quantitative sections. Scores are in between 1 to 6 where 6 is the highest,  4 or higher is usually set aside. Where, the  top Business Schools expect a score between 5.5 and 6 in order to be accepted to for their schools. Each school values the Analytic Writing Assessment in their own way. The top B-schools place higher  value on the AWA than other Business Schools. And the schools those do not value this score as much, may still use your AWA score as a tie-breaker when a decision cannot be made. That’s  why the preparation is important. Even a small amount of preparation can make a  huge difference.

Some Tips for the GMAT's AWA :- Checker  spends an average of 120 seconds reading and rating your essay. Clever You  need to come across as smart in order to make the first impression to achieve a good score in writing assessment. Some of the following tips you should take care of:

• Never use big words just for the sake of using them
• Grammar is important. 
• Use transition words generously
• Be point to point and more specific
• Vary the length of your sentences

This will make your effort easier for the Rater to read. It also signals that you are a smart and effective writer.