gre awa sample argument essays

The GRE ® General Test

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Analyze an Argument Task (in General Tests administered before September 22, 2023)

The "Analyze an Argument" task assesses your ability to:

• understand, analyze and insightfully evaluate an argument written by someone else according to specific instructions
• effectively communicate your evaluation in writing

Each topic consists of a brief passage in which the author makes a case for some course of action or interpretation of events by presenting claims backed by reasons and evidence.

Where to begin

Your task is to discuss the logical soundness of the author's case by critically examining the line of reasoning and the use of evidence. This task requires you to read the argument and instructions carefully. Read the argument more than once and make brief notes about points you want to develop more fully in your response. Pay special attention to what is:

• offered as evidence, support or proof
• explicitly stated, claimed or concluded
• assumed or supposed, perhaps without justification or proof
• not stated, but necessarily follows from or underlies what is stated

In addition, consider the  structure  of the argument — the way in which these elements are linked together to form a  line of reasoning . You should recognize the separate, sometimes implicit steps in the thinking process and consider whether the movement from each step to the next is logically sound. In tracing this line, look for transition words and phrases that suggest the author is attempting to make a logical connection (e.g., however, thus, therefore, evidently, hence, in conclusion).  

What you aren’t being asked to do

An important part of performing well on the Argument task is remembering what you are  not  being asked to do. You aren’t being asked to:

• discuss whether the statements in the argument are true or accurate
• agree or disagree with the position stated
• express your own views on the subject being discussed (as you were in the Issue task)

Instead, you’re being asked to evaluate the logical soundness of an argument of another writer and, in doing so, to demonstrate the critical thinking, perceptive reading and analytical writing skills that university faculty consider important for success in graduate school.

Task instruction sets

Each task is accompanied by one of the following sets of instructions that you must be sure to address when writing your response:

• Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.
• Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions, and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.
• Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the recommendation and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the recommendation.
• Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the advice and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the advice.
• Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the recommendation is likely to have the predicted result. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the recommendation.
• Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.
• Write a response in which you discuss one or more alternative explanations that could rival the proposed explanation and explain how your explanation(s) can plausibly account for the facts presented in the argument.
• Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be addressed in order to decide whether the conclusion and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to the questions would help to evaluate the conclusion.

"Analyze an Argument" is a critical thinking task requiring a written response. Consequently, the analytical skills displayed in your evaluation carry great weight in determining your score; however, the clarity with which you convey ideas is also important to your overall score.

Understanding the context for writing: Purpose and audience of the Argument task

The purposes of the task are to see how well equipped you are to insightfully evaluate an argument written by someone else and to effectively communicate your evaluation in writing to an academic audience. Your audience consists of GRE raters carefully trained to apply the scoring criteria identified in the scoring guide for the "Analyze an Argument" task. To get a clearer idea of how GRE raters apply the Argument scoring criteria to actual essays, you should review scored sample Argument essay responses and rater commentary. The sample responses, particularly those at 5 and 6 score levels, will show you a variety of successful strategies for organizing and developing an insightful evaluation. The rater commentary discusses specific aspects of analytical writing, such as: cogency of ideas; development and support; organization; syntactic variety; and facility with language. The commentary points out aspects that are particularly effective and insightful as well as any that detract from the overall effectiveness of the responses.

Preparing for the Argument task

The Argument task is meant to assess analytical writing and informal reasoning skills you’ve developed throughout your education. You won’t be expected to know specific methods of analysis or technical terms.  

Understand key concepts

You should be familiar with the directions for the Argument task and with certain key concepts, including the following:

• alternative explanation — a competing version of what might have caused the events in question that undercuts or qualifies the original explanation because it too can account for the observed facts
• analysis — the process of breaking something (e.g., an argument) down into its component parts to understand how they work together to make up the whole
• argument — a claim or a set of claims with reasons and evidence offered as support; a line of reasoning meant to demonstrate the truth or falsehood of something
• assumption — a belief, often unstated or unexamined, that someone must hold to maintain a particular position; something that is taken for granted but that must be true in order for the  conclusion  to be true
• conclusion — the end point reached by a line of reasoning, valid if the reasoning is sound; the resulting assertion
• counterexample — an example, real or hypothetical, that refutes or disproves a statement in the  argument
• evaluation — an assessment of the quality of evidence and reasons in an argument and of the overall merit of an  argument  

Published topic pools

An excellent way to prepare for the "Analyze an Argument" task is to practice writing on some of the  published Argument topics (PDF) . Even if you choose not to write a full essay response, you should find it helpful to practice evaluating a few of the arguments and sketching out your responses.

There’s no one way to practice that’s best for everyone. Some prefer to start practicing without adhering to the 30-minute time limit, so they have all the time they need to evaluate the argument and craft their response. Others prefer to take a “timed test” right away.  

Plan your response

Regardless of which approach you take, consider the following steps:

• Carefully read the argument and the specific instructions — you might want to read them more than once.
• Identify as many of the argument's claims, conclusions and underlying assumptions as possible and evaluate their quality.
• Think of as many alternative explanations and counterexamples as you can.
• Think of what specific additional evidence might weaken or lend support to the claims.
• Ask yourself what changes in the argument would make the reasoning more sound.

Write down each of these thoughts. When you've gone as far as you can with your evaluation, look over the notes and put them in a good order for discussion (perhaps by numbering them). Then write an evaluation according to the specific instructions by fully developing each point that is relevant to those instructions.

When you become quicker and more confident, you should practice writing some Argument responses within the 30-minute time limit so that you will have a good sense of how to pace yourself in the actual test. For example, you will not want to discuss one point so exhaustively or to provide so many equivalent examples that you run out of time to make your other main points.  

Evaluate your response

When you’re finished writing your practice response, assess how you did to see how and where you can improve.

• Get feedback on your response(s) from a writing instructor, philosophy teacher or someone who emphasizes critical thinking in their course
• Trade papers on the same topic with fellow students and discuss each other's responses in terms of the scoring guide. Focus less on the "right scores" and more on seeing how the responses meet or miss the performance standards for each score point and what you need to do to improve.
• Look at the  scoring guide for the Argument topic  and try to determine how your essay meets or misses the criteria for each score point in the guide. Comparing your own response to the scoring guide will help you see how and where to improve.

How to interpret numbers, percentages and statistics in Argument topics

Some arguments contain numbers, percentages or statistics offered only as evidence in support of the argument's conclusion. For example, an argument might claim that a certain community event is less popular this year than it was last year because only 100 people attended this year as compared with 150 last year, a 33% decline in attendance.

It is important to remember that you are not being asked to do a mathematical task with the numbers, percentages or statistics. Instead, you should evaluate these as evidence intended to support the conclusion. In the example above, the conclusion is that a community event has become less popular. You should ask yourself, "Does the difference between 100 people and 150 people support that conclusion?" In this case, there are other possible explanations, e.g., the weather might have been much worse this year, this year's event might have been held at an inconvenient time, etc.

Any one of these could explain the difference in attendance and weaken the conclusion that the event was "less popular." Similarly, percentages might support or weaken a conclusion depending on what actual numbers the percentages represent. Consider the claim that the drama club at a school deserves more funding because its membership has increased by 100%. This 100% increase could be significant if there had been 100 members and now there are 200 members, whereas the increase would be much less significant if there had been five members and now there are 10.

Remember that any numbers, percentages or statistics in Argument tasks are used only as evidence in support of a conclusion, and you should always consider whether they actually support the conclusion.

Tips for the Argument Task

Keep the following tips in mind:

• You’re free to organize and develop your response in any way that will enable you to effectively communicate your position.
• You can incorporate writing strategies you learned in English composition or writing-intensive college courses.
• GRE raters will not be looking for a particular developmental strategy or mode of writing. In fact, when GRE raters are trained, they review hundreds of Argument responses that, although highly diverse in content and form, display similar levels of critical thinking and persuasive writing.
• For example, raters will see some essays at the 6 score level that begin by briefly summarizing the argument and then explicitly stating and developing the main points of the evaluation. The raters know that a writer can earn a high score by developing several points in an evaluation or by identifying a central feature in the argument and developing that evaluation extensively. You might want to look at the sample Argument responses, particularly those at the 5 and 6 score levels, to see how other writers have successfully developed and organized their responses.
• Make choices about format and organization that you think support and enhance the overall effectiveness of your evaluation. This means using as many or as few paragraphs as you consider appropriate for your response, e.g., create a new paragraph when your discussion shifts to a new point of evaluation.
• You might want to organize your evaluation around the structure of the argument itself, discussing it line by line. Or you might want to first point out a central questionable assumption and then move on to discuss related weaknesses in the argument's line of reasoning.
• Using examples can help illustrate an important point in your evaluation or move your discussion forward. However, remember that it’s your critical thinking and analytical writing that is being assessed, not your ability to come up with examples. What matters is not the form your response takes, but how insightfully you evaluate the argument and how articulately you communicate your evaluation to academic raters within the context of the task.

Sample Argument task, strategies, responses and rater commentary

For more information, review a sample Argument task, including strategies for the topic and essay responses with rater commentary at each score level.

The sample responses, particularly those at 5 and 6 score levels, will show you a variety of successful strategies for organizing and developing an insightful evaluation. The rater commentary discusses specific aspects of analytical writing, such as:

• cogency of ideas
• development and support
• organization
• syntactic variety
• facility with language

The commentary also points out aspects that are particularly effective and insightful, as well as any that detract from the overall effectiveness of the responses.

Pool of Argument topics

When you take the GRE General Test, you’ll be presented with one Argument topic from the pool. To help you prepare, we’ve published the entire pool of tasks from which your issue will be selected.

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Master GRE AWA Writing With These Sample Essays

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Updated on 24 May, 2023

Shivangi Mishra

Sr. content editor.

AWA GRE examples are essential resources for test-takers preparing for the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), a standardized test for many graduate schools in the United States, Canada, and other countries. The AWA section measures your ability to effectively articulate complex ideas in writing, a skill that is highly valued in many academic and professional settings.

Table of Contents

• Task 1 of GRE AWA:
• Task 2 of GRE AWA:

GRE Issue Essay: Overview

Gre issue essay: samples, gre argument essay: overview, gre argument essay: samples, conclusion:, frequently asked questions, important resources for pte/sat/act exam, study abroad preparation course.

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To excel in the AWA section, it is crucial to have a solid understanding of the format, structure, and content of effective AWA essays. In this article, we will provide you with several GRE analytical writing examples & GRE analytical writing samples to help you master the AWA section of the GRE. By studying and practising these AWA GRE examples, you will be better equipped to handle the challenges of the AWA section and achieve a high score on the GRE.

Types of GRE AWA Essays:

The GRE AWA consists of two tasks that are designed to measure different aspects-

Task 1 of GRE AWA:  

The first task is the "Issue" essay, which requires test-takers to respond to a given prompt by taking a position on a particular issue and supporting that position with reasons and examples. 

Task 2 of GRE AWA:  

The second task is the "Argument" essay, which requires test-takers to analyse a given argument, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and then critique the argument by presenting their own logical reasoning and evidence.

In the GRE Exam Pattern, each essay is allotted a 30-minute time limit, and the test-taker is expected to produce a well-written, well-organised, and well-supported essay. Two trained readers score The AWA section on a scale of 0-6, with half-point increments. The two scores are averaged to determine the final score for each essay.

In this task of GRE Preparation, test-takers are presented with a prompt that presents an issue or topic and are asked to take a position on the issue and support that position with reasons and examples. The Issue essay prompts are typically broad and abstract, and they may cover a wide range of topics, including social, political, cultural, and philosophical issues. Some prompts may be specific to particular fields, such as education or science, while others may be more general.

When writing the Issue essay, test-takers are expected to analyse the prompt, develop a clear and specific thesis statement that takes a position on the issue, and provide supporting reasons and examples that demonstrate the validity of their position. The essay should be well-structured, with an introduction that sets up the argument, body paragraphs that provide evidence and support for the thesis, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and summarises the main points of the essay.

Here are some sample GRE analytical writing samples:

Issue 1: Governments should focus more on solving problems within their own countries rather than trying to solve the world's problems.

Essay points:  

Governments have a responsibility to address both domestic and global issues, but domestic problems should receive more attention. Solving domestic problems is crucial for fulfilling a government's primary obligation to its citizens and can serve as a model for other countries to follow. Attempting to solve global problems is complex and requires extensive resources and international cooperation. However, some global issues, such as climate change and nuclear proliferation, require international cooperation to address. Governments should prioritise solving domestic problems but also work with other countries to find solutions to global issues.

Issue 2: In today's society, it is becoming more important for individuals to think independently and to challenge authority.

Essay points:

In a free-thinking society, it is essential to think independently and challenge authority when needed to develop unique perspectives and hold those in power accountable. However, it is vital to respect authority in some situations, such as emergency responses, workplaces, and the military. A balance between independent thinking and respect for authority can create a society that values accountability and critical thinking.

Issue 3: The best way to teach is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones.

Essay points: 

Ignoring negative actions is not an effective way to promote growth and development in individuals. Negative behaviours must be addressed, and constructive feedback and criticism should be provided to help individuals improve. Praising positive actions is important, but negative actions cannot be ignored, especially if they have consequences. By addressing negative behaviours, teachers can help individuals develop the skills and habits needed to succeed.

In this task, you will be presented with a short passage that argues for or against a particular claim. Your task is to analyse the argument, identify any flaws or weaknesses in it, and then write an essay in which you discuss these flaws and explain how they weaken the argument.

The purpose of the Argument Essay is to evaluate your ability to understand, analyse, and critically evaluate arguments. You will need to be able to identify assumptions, evaluate evidence, and recognize logical fallacies. You will also need to be able to write clearly and coherently, supporting your analysis with specific examples and evidence.

Here are some GRE Argument essay prompts, along with sample essays that respond to each argument:

Argument 1 : The following appeared in a memorandum from the manager of WWAC radio station.

"To reverse a decline in listener numbers, our owners have decided that WWAC must change from its current rock-music format. The decline has occurred despite population growth in our listening area, but that growth has resulted mainly from people moving here after their retirement. We must make listeners of these new residents. We could switch to a music format tailored to their tastes, but a continuing decline in local sales of recorded music suggests limited interest in music. Instead, we should adopt a news-and-talk format, a form of radio that is increasingly popular in our area."

The argument to switch to a news-and-talk format to address a decline in listener numbers at WWAC radio station is not well-supported. The manager's assumption that the decline is due to a lack of interest in rock music and that new residents prefer news-and-talk is not backed by evidence. The decision to switch formats should be based on a thorough analysis of the station's strengths, weaknesses, and audience preferences.

Argument 2: The following appeared in a memorandum from the vice president of a manufacturing company.

"During the past year, workers at our newly opened factory reported 30 percent more on-the-job accidents than workers at nearby Panoply Industries, where the work shifts are one hour shorter than ours. A recent government study reports that fatigue and sleep deprivation among workers are significant contributing factors in many on-the-job accidents. Therefore, we should adopt shorter work shifts and give our employees time to rest."

Essay Points:  

The argument to adopt shorter work shifts to reduce on-the-job accidents is well-supported. The vice president of the manufacturing company cites a government study and data from a nearby company to support the claim. Shorter work shifts can not only reduce accidents but also lead to other benefits such as increased productivity, job satisfaction, and better business outcomes.

In conclusion, reviewing GRE AWA samples can be a helpful way to prepare for the Analytical Writing section of the exam. By analysing the structure and content of well-written essays, test-takers can gain a better understanding of the expectations and standards of the test. Additionally, practising writing essays using sample prompts can help test-takers hone their writing skills and develop strategies for tackling different types of essays & arguments. While the samples provided here are just a few examples, there are many more available through official GRE resources and other test prep materials. With practice and preparation, test-takers can feel confident and well-prepared for the AWA section of the GRE.

What is the format of AWA in GRE?

AWA consists of two tasks: the Issue task and the Argument task. Both tasks must be completed within 30 minutes each. Each task is scored on a scale of 0-6, with half-point increments, and the scores are averaged to determine the test-taker's overall AWA score.

Is GRE AWA 3.5 good?

A score of 3.5 on the GRE Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) is considered an average score, falling in the 41st percentile. This means that 59 percent of test-takers scored higher than a 3.5 on the AWA.

Is GRE 320 easy?

The GRE score of 320 is a respectable score, falling in the 83rd percentile, which means that 83% of test-takers scored lower than 320. However, whether the score of 320 is easy or not depends on the individual test-taker's abilities, preparation, and expectations.

PTE Examination Eligibility Criteria

There are no specific PTE exam eligibility criteria set by Pearson VUE – the organizers of the test./

PTE Academic Syllabus

PTE syllabus includes various sections such as Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening./

The PTE exam pattern is designed to test whether candidates can study at international institutions that have English as the main language for instructions./

PTE exam fees in India are INR 14,700, including taxes. You can choose your slot with this fee two days in advance./

PTE Test Centers in India

Here is a list of PTE exam centers in India that you can check out. Please note that owing to the COVID pandemic, several centers are still closed./

PTE Exam Dates 2022

The PTE 2022 examination list has been released officially by the authorities conducting the examination./

After all, America is home to some world-class universities. Let’s discuss PTE-accepted universities in USA./

PTE Accepted Universities in Canada

Canada is a country that is renowned for the quality of its educational infrastructure. As a result, it is no surprise that a list of PTE accepted universities in Canada is sought-after./

SAT Exam Dates & Deadlines for 2022

The SAT exam dates fall on Saturdays and the test is generally conducted on 7 Saturdays every year; the deadline for registration is four weeks prior to the date of the test./

SAT Exam Syllabus

According to the latest update on SAT syllabus 2022, SAT Subject Tests and the SAT optional essays have been discontinued which has now reduced the duration of the exam by 50 minutes./

Understanding the SAT exam pattern is of paramount importance for all those who want to study undergraduate courses from universities or colleges abroad./

SAT Scholarship for Indian Students

The College Board India Scholars Program offers the SAT scholarship for Indian students. This scholarship helps students receive education from renowned institutes worldwide./

How to Register for SAT Exam

How to register for the SAT examination? Stay assured that the procedure is not at all complex. Students desirous of obtaining admission into bachelor’s or undergraduate courses in the US or Canada will find this to be an important examination./

ACT exam syllabus

It is very important for ACT aspirants to be aware of the complete ACT exam syllabus, as it will help them to avoid any surprises on the day of the examination./

ACT exam pattern

The ACT is a widely accepted and standardized examination in the U.S. and several other countries. It is used majorly for undergraduate admissions into several colleges and universities./

ACT Test Centres in India

Due to its relevance and popularity, there are various ACT centres. Moreover, the ACT test centres in India are spread across multiple states./

ACT Exam Registration

Registration of the ACT examination is done through the official website online. Applicants need to register for the test at least two months before the test date. /

The American College Testing– ACT score is a part of the college applications in the United States of America (USA), depending on the institution students apply to. There are no fixed passing marks for this examination./

Let's take a close look at the ABCs of the ACT exam and help you prepare with some essential ACT study tips./

ACT Exam Dates 2022

It is important to know the ACT dates for the year 2022 if you are planning to appear anytime soon./

SAT Preparation Books

Carefully curated list of the top SAT prep material can prove invaluable to reducing aspirants' efforts. So, to simplify your research, here are 10 SAT exam books to consider for thorough preparation./

PTE Exam Accepted Countries

Here you will find the complete list of PTE exam accepted countries./

She is an experienced writer and journalist who has extensively covered the education sector in India and Abroad. Now helping Indian aspirants realise their foreign education dream by providing them with relevant content and information through upGrad Abroad. Amateur traveller, loves to read Architectural Digest!

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