The Analytical Writing Assessment or AWA section of the GMAT does not contribute to the total GMAT score. But it does not mean that the section has no relevance. Read on to know everything you need to know about the section, along with why business schools look at AWA scores.
GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment Section
The GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), often termed the GMAT essay, is the first section of the GMAT. It consists of a single, one-paragraph prompt with an argument. The prompt can be about political, business, or current affairs, and is mostly sourced from editorials, company reports, op-ed sections, etc. You are expected to explain and critique the argument and the reasoning behind it within the stipulated time period of 30 minutes.
The GMAT AWA examines your ability to communicate coherently and effectively in the English language, think critically, and analyze an argument. It is important to note that while there is no specific word count recommended for this, it is wise not to exceed 500 words in the AWA section.
Is The GMAT AWA Section Important?
Just like the Integrated Reasoning score, the GMAT AWA score does not contribute to the total GMAT score. But between the two, the IR section has more importance – when the section was first introduced in 2012, the essay section was reduced by half. Consequently, the Analytical Writing Assessment score is considered to have little importance. But this does not mean that the section holds NO value. Here is why the GMAT AWA matters:
- While AWA may not explicitly help your case, a low AWA score definitely acts as a deterrent. Scoring less than 4 on the GMAT essay can damage your chances of admission to top business schools.
- Communication skills are vital in the business world: your ability to convey your ideas in clear and coherent written form will always be relevant in the business world and AWA helps gauge your ability to do just that.
- Business schools need the assurance that candidates are proficient in written English. Strong command of the English language is not only important for handling coursework but also for mingling with your cohort. For nonnative English speakers, the AWA score becomes even more important.
- The GMAT AWA section matters most when juxtaposed with the MBA application. Business schools expect the language competence demonstrated in the GMAT section to reflect in the application as well. A well-written application and poor AWA score raise serious questions about the authorship of the former, increasing your chances of being disqualified.
GMAC does recommend the b-schools to not directly compare the two, considering one is written after careful consideration and the other in a raw form within a 30-minute restriction. The comparison is still done to help with the elimination of doubt for external authorship of application and estimation of some similarities in terms of ability.
Why do You Not See the GMAT AWA Score on The Exam Day?
The unofficial score report seen after submitting GMAT does not show the Analytical Writing Assessment score. This is because the GMAT essay is scored by a human grader and computer grading program called E-Rater. If the two grades are the same or differ only by one point, their average becomes the final AWA score. If the scores differ by a wider margin, another human grader marks the essay to determine the final score. Receiving the AWA score after test day does not mean that the score is unimportant.
How is The GMAT AWA Section Scored?
GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment section is graded on a scale of 0 to 6. According to GMAC AWA score guidelines,
- 6 is outstanding
- 5 is strong
- 4 is adequate
- 3 is limited
- 2 is seriously flawed
- 1 is fundamentally deficient.
Along with this score, each candidate is also given a percentile ranking corresponding to the percentage of candidates you scored higher than. This percentile ranking is based on the last three years of GMAT scores. To know more about how GMAT scores are calculated, read How is GMAT Score Calculated
| AWA Score | AWA Percentile |
|---|---|
| 6 | 88% |
| 5.5 | 81% |
| 5 | 57% |
| 4.5 | 47% |
| 4 | 18% |
| 3.5 | 12% |
| 3 | 4% |
| 2.5 | 3% |
| 2 | 1% |
| 1.5 | 1% |
| 1 | 1% |
| 0 | 0 |
What Determines the GMAT AWA Score?
The GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment score is determined on the basis of:
- Content: The content of the GMAT essay needs to be relevant and persuasive. You need to present an in-depth and accurate analysis of the flaws of the argument. This should be supported with logical reasoning, examples, and data points to prove it. Finally, present your suggestions for fixing the flaws of the author’s argument.
- Organization of the essay: The AWA section should offer a cohesive and structured write-up. The introduction, body, and conclusion should have a logical flow of thought.
- Command over language: If you want a perfect score, it is important to demonstrate an impeccable command of the English language, including grammar, diction, and syntax. Further, you should be able to showcase the knowledge and use of transition words, varying sentence structures, and a sophisticated vocabulary.
What is a Good GMAT AWA Score?
If you are targeting the top 10 business schools, you should try for a perfect 6. Conventionally, 5 and above is considered a strong GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment Score. However, it is seen as a red flag for an international applicant to score below 4.
GMAC advises to “not make distinctions among applicants on the basis of a small scoring distinction—one point or less apart.” A good GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment score is not one that is high enough to enhance your admission chances but rather one that is not low enough to hamper your chances. In other words, even if you score a perfect 6, it may not compensate for a low GPA or lack of experience. However, if your score is lower than 4, it will definitely raise questions about your ability to communicate well in the business world or even handle the MBA program’s coursework.
Three Tips to Score a Perfect 6 in AWA
GMAT essay requires the candidate to critique the given argument. Here are simple tips to score a full 6 in GMAT AWA:
- Each argument has certain flaws: Any argument is embedded with flaws such as faulty assumptions, scanty evidence to support the hypothesis, vague words such as many or few, lack of consideration of all factors, flawed comparisons, incorrect correlations, etc. Try and identify which of these are present in the argument.
- Offer an in-depth analysis of the flaws of the argument and suggest possible improvements the author should make to validate the argument. Remember to follow a structured manner in elaborating on these points
- Do not offer your own opinions: It does not matter whether you agree or disagree with the given argument. Your only assignment is to show why and how the argument is flawed.
If you are unable to score 5 and above in your practice tests, allot some additional time to AWA in your GMAT prep journey. It is relatively easy to get a perfect score in this section with some practice. The good news is that no special knowledge is needed to ace the section, just clear and logical thinking.
If you are looking GMAT essay templates, read AWA Template for Getting the Perfect 6
If you have any other questions on AWA, drop them in the comments below!
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