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Time: |
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60 minutes |
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Format: |
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Two 30-minute essays |
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Question Types: |
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Analysis of an Argument
Analysis of an Issue |
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The Analytical Writing section of the GMAT exam consists of two 30-minute essays, which will demonstrate your writing skills to business schools. It is scored separately from your main 200-800 score, on a scale of 0 to 6, in increments of .5. Essays are scored by a human grader and a computer grading system, and the two scores are averaged for your final score.
Analysis of an
Argument
The Analysis of an Argument question presents a brief argument similar to a statement you would find in a critical reasoning question. Your task is to write an essay that critiques the structure of the argument and explains how persuasive or unpersuasive you find it. You should not try to present your own point of view on the topic and argue for it in this essay—instead, present a critique of the author's argument.
When you see an argument, ask yourself the following questions:
- What's the
conclusion?
- What evidence is used to support the
conclusion?
- What assumptions does the writer make
in moving from evidence to conclusion?
- Is the argument
persuasive?
- What would make it stronger?
Weaker?
Analysis of an Issue
Expect the Analysis of an Issue question to present a broad general issue with several facets—sometimes two points of view will be asserted and other times you will see only one explicitly stated. Your task is to explore the issue's complexities, formulate an opinion, and express yourself clearly, convincingly, and correctly.
There is no "correct" answer. Consequently, it doesn't matter which side of an argument you advocate. What does matter, however, is that you develop an opinion and express yourself in grammatically correct English and provide some concrete examples to support your ideas and make them clear to the reader.