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godot · 2006 June 23rd, 04:38 PM

Hi folks,

I got my official GMAT score report a couple of days back(20 June, 2006), and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had scored 6.0 on the AWA section. I had not practiced for this a whole lot -- just attempted all the essays/issues for the practice tests I took in the last week or so -- hence I wasn't really sure how I would do on the real GMAT for this section. It probably doesn't matter either way, given that schools rarely look at the AWA scores, but it was nice to know that I did not do egregiously badly in this section. I am not sure if this post will have anything new to add to all the different things that have already been explained here, but here are the details anyway.

For the analysis of argument section, I think the most useful approach for me was to treat the argument as a critical reasoning question and use the approach one would normally use when answering critical reasoning questions, namely:

- Identify the assumptions made in the argument and point out the flaws in that argument (and there are almost always going to be flaws)

- Determine if the reasoning used in the argument is valid or not (it's almost always going to be flawed, usually because the argument goes too far or generalizes too much or something similar)

- Try to point to specific details in the argument which are incorrect and need to addressed before the argument can be considered valid, and mention how to resolve these problems. What details would you expect a good argument to have.

- If the argument uses results from some sort of survey, you can almost always argue -- legitimately -- that the sample space for the survey is too small, and that there's no reason to believe that what holds for the group surveyed will be true in general.

- It's also useful to point out that correlation is not the same as causality. I did not end up using this in my essays, but it's a useful argument to remember.

- Finally, as has been pointed out in many places, leave the first and the last paragraphs for the end. The first paragraph should be an executive summary of what you are going to say, and the last paragraph should wrap things up nicely, providing a good framework for the whole essay. Both of these things are best done at the end.

The analysis of issue question is far more open-ended, which is both good and bad. It's good because you can defend any point of view as long as you reason it out properly, but it often requires taking a more balanced approach, and might therefore require a little more time to organize your thoughts. Here's what worked for me:

- The first thing I did was to write down any point, either for or against, which was relevant to the issue. You need about three good points on either side to be able to defend your stand.

- Next, I evaluated which side of the issue made more sense to me, and started writing out the essay using the points I had compiled in step 1 which strengthened my argument.

- After I had elaborated on all the points in favor of my argument, I tried to address everything that I felt could be used against my opinion. This is probably a good thing to do, since it shows that you have thought things through. Typically, the points against your argument make sense only under extreme conditions or assumptions, hence if those assumptions/conditions are listed explicitly, the opposing argument is likely to be weakened.

- Finally, I wrote the first and the last paragraph, exactly as I did for the the analysis of argument question.

I hope this is useful in some way for other people preparing for the test. I have only one thing to say about this section of the GMAT: don't sweat too much on this part of the test. It's relatively straightforward, and as long as you organize your thoughts properly, and write with as little ambiguity as possible, you will be just fine. Good luck for the GMAT! Cheers,

Manu

stucco005 · 2006 June 23rd, 05:14 PM

Congrats on finishing the GMAT! Thanks for the information as well, it will prove useful.

geekybiz1 · 2006 August 5th, 03:21 AM

Thanks for the information. Does this mean you did not use any fixed template?

geekybiz1 · 2006 September 23rd, 04:53 AM

Hey...!
I scored a perfect six with AWA as well... I certainly used a template but am not able to find it right now. So, I have just attached a practise issue and argument that I had written then.

Note that my issue and argument on G-day was slightly different from the format I have used in attached document.

In the G-day essays, I used examples more extensively (as per advice from TMians) and tried to explain-comprehend rather than just mention (as per explanation in OG 11).

Cheers!

skarya · 2006 September 23rd, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geekybiz1

Hey...!
I scored a perfect six with AWA as well... I certainly used a template but am not able to find it right now. So, I have just attached a practise issue and argument that I had written then.

Note that my issue and argument on G-day was slightly different from the format I have used in attached document.

In the G-day essays, I used examples more extensively (as per advice from TMians) and tried to explain-comprehend rather than just mention (as per explanation in OG 11).

Cheers!

well written

This shows why u scored 6 in AWA...especially effective use of key words, idioms and organization all look very pro. Nice and crisp paragraphs and such short and sweet essays...leave readers with crave for more from author...Not sure of e-rater though

Thank you.

Nivlem · 2007 September 27th, 09:31 AM

Well done!

victor.sequeira · 2007 October 2nd, 04:08 AM

thats a great one guys keep it up.

TaTum · 2007 October 9th, 07:50 AM

Hi Geekybiz1,

I am a test taker from Bangkok. I need to improve my AWA score.

I am unable to view your sample because the number of my posts is not enough. Could you please send me directly? santi.krab@gmail.com

Thank you very much!

G-Point · 2007 October 15th, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geekybiz1

Hey...!
I scored a perfect six with AWA as well... I certainly used a template but am not able to find it right now. So, I have just attached a practise issue and argument that I had written then.

Note that my issue and argument on G-day was slightly different from the format I have used in attached document.

In the G-day essays, I used examples more extensively (as per advice from TMians) and tried to explain-comprehend rather than just mention (as per explanation in OG 11).

Cheers!

So regarding the examples...How extensively should they be described??

gmatgoal · 2007 October 22nd, 05:17 AM

Can you send templates in the email?

2006 June 23rd, 04:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
godot Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 6	6.0 - My AWA experience Hi folks, I got my official GMAT score report a couple of days back(20 June, 2006), and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had scored 6.0 on the AWA section. I had not practiced for this a whole lot -- just attempted all the essays/issues for the practice tests I took in the last week or so -- hence I wasn't really sure how I would do on the real GMAT for this section. It probably doesn't matter either way, given that schools rarely look at the AWA scores, but it was nice to know that I did not do egregiously badly in this section. I am not sure if this post will have anything new to add to all the different things that have already been explained here, but here are the details anyway. For the analysis of argument section, I think the most useful approach for me was to treat the argument as a critical reasoning question and use the approach one would normally use when answering critical reasoning questions, namely: - Identify the assumptions made in the argument and point out the flaws in that argument (and there are almost always going to be flaws) - Determine if the reasoning used in the argument is valid or not (it's almost always going to be flawed, usually because the argument goes too far or generalizes too much or something similar) - Try to point to specific details in the argument which are incorrect and need to addressed before the argument can be considered valid, and mention how to resolve these problems. What details would you expect a good argument to have. - If the argument uses results from some sort of survey, you can almost always argue -- legitimately -- that the sample space for the survey is too small, and that there's no reason to believe that what holds for the group surveyed will be true in general. - It's also useful to point out that correlation is not the same as causality. I did not end up using this in my essays, but it's a useful argument to remember. - Finally, as has been pointed out in many places, leave the first and the last paragraphs for the end. The first paragraph should be an executive summary of what you are going to say, and the last paragraph should wrap things up nicely, providing a good framework for the whole essay. Both of these things are best done at the end. The analysis of issue question is far more open-ended, which is both good and bad. It's good because you can defend any point of view as long as you reason it out properly, but it often requires taking a more balanced approach, and might therefore require a little more time to organize your thoughts. Here's what worked for me: - The first thing I did was to write down any point, either for or against, which was relevant to the issue. You need about three good points on either side to be able to defend your stand. - Next, I evaluated which side of the issue made more sense to me, and started writing out the essay using the points I had compiled in step 1 which strengthened my argument. - After I had elaborated on all the points in favor of my argument, I tried to address everything that I felt could be used against my opinion. This is probably a good thing to do, since it shows that you have thought things through. Typically, the points against your argument make sense only under extreme conditions or assumptions, hence if those assumptions/conditions are listed explicitly, the opposing argument is likely to be weakened. - Finally, I wrote the first and the last paragraph, exactly as I did for the the analysis of argument question. I hope this is useful in some way for other people preparing for the test. I have only one thing to say about this section of the GMAT: don't sweat too much on this part of the test. It's relatively straightforward, and as long as you organize your thoughts properly, and write with as little ambiguity as possible, you will be just fine. Good luck for the GMAT! Cheers, Manu _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "Please leave your values at the front desk." -- Sign in a Paris hotel lobby

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2006 June 23rd, 05:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
stucco005 Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 287	Congrats on finishing the GMAT! Thanks for the information as well, it will prove useful.

2006 August 5th, 03:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
geekybiz1 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: May 2006 Location: India Posts: 833	Thanks for the information. Does this mean you did not use any fixed template?

2007 September 27th, 09:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
Nivlem Int'l Fall 08 applicant Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 6	Well done!

2007 October 2nd, 04:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
victor.sequeira Eager! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 40	thats a great one guys keep it up.

2007 October 9th, 07:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
TaTum Every question counts! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangkok Posts: 334	Hi Geekybiz1, I am a test taker from Bangkok. I need to improve my AWA score. I am unable to view your sample because the number of my posts is not enough. Could you please send me directly? santi.krab@gmail.com Thank you very much!

2007 October 22nd, 05:17 AM	#10 (permalink)
gmatgoal Within my grasp! Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 170	Can you send templates in the email?

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