AWA

Analytical Writing Assessment

A section of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). In the GMAT, the AWA section is designed to evaluate a test-taker’s ability to analyze an argument critically and communicate their analysis effectively in written form. Here are the key components of the GMAT AWA:

1. Purpose: The AWA section assesses your skills in analyzing the logical structure of an argument and your ability to express your analysis clearly and persuasively. It does not test your knowledge of specific business or academic content.
2. Task: In the AWA section, you will be presented with an argument with logical flaws or weaknesses. Your task is to evaluate the argument’s reasoning, identify weaknesses, and write an essay that critiques the argument while providing a well-structured and coherent response.
3. Time: Test-takers have 30 minutes to complete the AWA section.
4. Format: The AWA section consists of one essay task. You are presented with a brief passage (usually a few paragraphs) that presents an argument. You are then required to write an essay that analyzes the argument’s strengths and weaknesses. The essay should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
5. Scoring: AWA essays are scored by human graders and a computer program. Each essay is given a score on a scale of 0 to 6, with half-point increments. The scores from the human grader and the computer program are averaged to determine the final AWA score. For example, if one human grader gives your essay a score of 4, and the computer program assigns a score of 5, your final AWA score for that essay would be 4.5.
6. Importance: While the AWA section is not as heavily weighted as the quantitative and verbal sections of the GMAT, it is still an important part of your overall GMAT score. Business schools consider AWA scores when evaluating applicants, so it’s essential to take this section seriously and strive for a strong performance.

The AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment) is a section of the GMAT that assesses your ability to critically evaluate an argument and express your analysis effectively in written form. It consists of one essay task and is scored on a scale of 0 to 6, with half-point increments. Strong performance in the AWA section can enhance your overall GMAT score and contribute to a competitive application for business school.