GRE Analytical Writing

Since September 2023, how many tasks does the GRE Analytical Writing measure consist of?

• ATwo tasks: Analyze an Issue and Analyze an Argument
• BOne task: Analyze an Issue only
• COne task: Analyze an Argument only
• DThree tasks: Issue, Argument, and Reading Response

What is the time limit for the Analyze an Issue task on the current GRE?

• A20 minutes
• B25 minutes
• C30 minutes
• D45 minutes

The GRE Analytical Writing score is reported on which scale?

• A0–100 in whole-number increments
• B1–6 in whole-number increments only
• C0–6 in half-point increments
• D130–170 in one-point increments

According to ETS's official scoring rubric, a score of 6 is labeled as which of the following?

• AProficient
• BStrong
• COutstanding
• DSuperior

Which ETS score label corresponds to a score of 2 on the GRE Analytical Writing rubric?

• ALimited
• BFundamentally Deficient
• CSeriously Flawed
• DInadequate

How does ETS combine the human rater score and the e-rater (AI) score in the current GRE Analytical Writing process?

• AThe e-rater score is the final score; humans only verify outliers
• BOne human rater scores the essay; if the human and e-rater agree within one point, the hu…
• CTwo human raters score the essay and their scores are averaged, with e-rater used only if…
• DThe human score and e-rater score are always averaged together

According to ETS's official rubric, which set of characteristics most accurately describes a score-6 essay?

• APresents a position with some development; minor grammatical errors that do not impede me…
• BPresents a cogent, well-articulated analysis of the issue and conveys meaning skillfully
• CProvides adequate reasoning with occasional lapses in focus or clarity
• DDemonstrates strong organization but relies primarily on personal anecdotes rather than a…

A score of 4 on the GRE Analytical Writing rubric is labeled 'Adequate.' Which description BEST fits a score-4 essay?

• APresents a clearly developed position with sophisticated analysis and virtually no errors
• BPresents a position with some development and relevant reasons, but may lack focus or con…
• CContains little relevant reasoning and serious errors that interfere with meaning
• DProvides no discernible position on the issue

Under what condition does ETS assign a score of 0 rather than 0.5 or 1 on the GRE Analytical Writing measure?

• AWhen the essay is very short (fewer than 100 words)
• BWhen the essay contains more than five grammatical errors per paragraph
• CWhen the response does not address the assigned task, copies the prompt, is in a foreign…
• DWhen the essay takes an unpopular or controversial position on the issue

Which of the following is the primary construct that the GRE Analytical Writing measure is designed to assess?

• AGrammar and punctuation proficiency
• BRecall of academic vocabulary and literary terms
• CCritical thinking and the ability to articulate and support a position with reasoning and…
• DSpeed of writing and overall word count

Before beginning to write the Issue essay, ETS advises test-takers to spend time doing which of the following?

• AWriting a complete outline with every paragraph mapped out before typing a single sentence
• BBrainstorming the central issue, deciding on a position, and identifying compelling reaso…
• CReading a model 6-essay in the scratch area to calibrate quality
• DChoosing the most emotionally charged example to hook the reader immediately

Which approach to the Analyze an Issue task is most consistent with the ETS scoring rubric for a high score?

• ATake a nuanced, qualified position and acknowledge conditions under which the opposing vi…
• BAgree fully with the given statement and provide only supporting evidence
• CDisagree strongly with the statement to demonstrate independent thinking
• DAvoid taking a clear position to show intellectual balance and fairness

In the GRE Issue essay, what does it mean to 'address complexity'?

• AUse at least three subordinate clauses in every paragraph
• BInclude a counterargument or concession and explain why it does not undermine your overal…
• CWrite a longer essay that covers many different aspects of the topic
• DQuote multiple academic authorities to demonstrate breadth of knowledge

Which essay structure is most effective and commonly used in high-scoring GRE Issue essays?

• ANarrative structure: tell a personal story from beginning to end, building to a thesis at…
• BInductive structure: provide many examples first, and state your thesis only in the final…
• CClassical argumentative structure: introduction with clear thesis, body paragraphs with r…
• DStream-of-consciousness: write continuously without paragraph breaks to show fluid thinki…

How should a test-taker handle an Issue prompt on a topic they know very little about?

• ASkip the task and move to the next section
• BUse hypothetical or general examples, since the GRE does not require domain-specific expe…
• CAdmit ignorance in the introduction and ask the rater to consider limited background
• DWrite a lengthy personal anecdote to compensate for lack of factual knowledge

What is the recommended time allocation for a 30-minute GRE Issue essay?

• AWrite for 29 minutes; save 1 minute to re-read the prompt
• BPlan for 2–3 minutes, write for 23–25 minutes, proofread for 2–3 minutes
• CPlan for 10 minutes, then write as much as possible in the remaining 20 minutes
• DWrite continuously for 25 minutes, then spend 5 minutes revising every sentence

When the Issue prompt includes specific instructions to 'address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position,' what must the essay include?

• AA second thesis statement that argues the opposing view
• BAcknowledgment of the strongest counterarguments and a response to why they do not defeat…
• CA list of all possible objections without evaluating them
• DA separate concluding paragraph dedicated entirely to the counterargument

A student writes an Issue essay introduction as follows: 'There are many sides to this complex issue. Some people agree, while others disagree. In this essay, I will discuss both sides.' Which flaw does this introduction most exhibit?

• AIt is too long and will consume too much of the 30-minute time limit
• BIt fails to state a clear, defensible thesis and takes no discernible position on the iss…
• CIt incorrectly assumes the prompt has two sides rather than multiple sides
• DIt uses informal language inappropriate for academic writing

Read the following body paragraph and identify its primary weakness: 'Education is very important. Many people go to college and learn a lot. Studies show that education helps people. Therefore, governments should fund education. This is why education matters.' Which statement best identifies the core flaw?

• AThe paragraph is too short; it needs at least 300 words to be effective
• BThe paragraph lacks specific, developed evidence and consists of vague, circular assertio…
• CThe paragraph should not begin with a claim; examples should come first
• DThe paragraph uses the first person too sparingly

A student is preparing to write an Issue essay on the prompt: 'Governments should prioritize economic development over environmental protection.' Which of the following thesis statements would most likely earn a high score?

• AThis essay will argue that governments should prioritize economic development over enviro…
• BWhile short-term economic pressures may compel governments to deprioritize environmental…
• CEconomic development and environmental protection are both important, and governments sho…
• DMany people think governments should prioritize economics, but other people disagree, so…

Which of the following examples provides the STRONGEST support for the claim that 'mandatory public service improves civic engagement'?

• AMany people feel that community service is personally rewarding and builds character.
• BStudies from countries with mandatory national service programs, such as South Korea and…
• CCivic engagement is important for a healthy democracy, and public service can help people…
• DSome people who do public service go on to become politicians or community leaders.

Which of the following is an unstated assumption in the argument: 'Since our city installed more streetlights, crime rates dropped 20%. Therefore, installing more streetlights reduces crime.'?

• AStreetlights cost money to install and maintain
• BThe crime rate decline was caused by the streetlights and not by other simultaneous chang…
• CStreetlights also improve traffic safety, not just crime rates
• DThe 20% crime reduction is a statistically significant figure

Which logical error does the following reasoning commit? 'The best athletes train intensely every day without rest. Therefore, anyone who wants to improve their fitness should train intensely every day without rest.'

• ACircular reasoning: the conclusion restates the premise
• BHasty generalization: applying a principle that may only work for elite athletes to all e…
• CFalse dilemma: assuming there are only two options (train intensely or not)
• DAppeal to authority: citing athletes as experts on fitness science

A test-taker reads the following Issue prompt: 'Educational institutions should actively promote independent thinking even if it leads to students challenging established social norms.' The specific instruction is: 'Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take.' What should the writer's PRIMARY task be in the opening paragraph?

• ADefine every key term in the prompt, including 'independent thinking,' 'social norms,' an…
• BState a clear position (agree, partially agree, or disagree) and signal the reasons that…
• CSummarize the history of progressive education movements to provide context
• DPose three rhetorical questions that the body paragraphs will answer

The GRE Issue essay prompt instructs the writer to 'consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true.' A student argues that a statement about technology always improving learning 'might not hold true' in which of the following scenarios? Which scenario provides the BEST demonstration of analytical complexity?

• A'Technology might not improve learning if the technology breaks down during class.'
• B'Technology might not improve learning for students in remote regions who lack reliable i…
• C'Some students prefer books to technology, so technology does not always improve learning…
• D'Technology could be a distraction, which is bad.'

Which sentence functions most effectively as a topic sentence for a body paragraph in a GRE Issue essay arguing that universal basic income would reduce social inequality?

• AUniversal basic income is an interesting idea that has been discussed by economists.
• BBy providing a financial floor below which no citizen can fall, a universal basic income…
• CSome people support universal basic income while others oppose it, so there are many opin…
• DUniversal basic income might be expensive to implement and could raise taxes.

In a GRE Issue essay conclusion, which of the following is MOST effective?

• AIntroduce a new argument that was not developed in the body paragraphs to show additional…
• BSimply restate the thesis word-for-word from the introduction to signal completion
• CSynthesize the key reasons, reinforce the qualified thesis, and if possible gesture towar…
• DApologize for any weaknesses in the argument and invite the reader to disagree

How many body paragraphs do most high-scoring GRE Issue essays contain?

• AOne long body paragraph covering all reasons
• BExactly five body paragraphs following the five-paragraph essay model strictly
• CTwo to three focused body paragraphs, each developing one well-supported reason
• DAt least six body paragraphs to demonstrate comprehensive coverage

A GRE test-taker is responding to the prompt: 'Governments should place limits on the hours employees can work each week.' The instruction says to 'describe specific circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous.' Which of the following body-paragraph approaches best fulfills this instruction?

• AArgue that the recommendation is entirely correct and provide only supporting evidence
• BIdentify a circumstance where limits would be advantageous (e.g., preventing burnout in h…
• CDiscuss the recommendation in abstract terms without specifying any real-world context
• DArgue that the government should never limit employee hours because freedom is important

What does the GRE rubric mean when it evaluates an essay's 'development'?

• AThe number of paragraphs in the essay
• BThe total word count of the response
• CThe extent to which reasons are explained with logical support, specific evidence, and co…
• DWhether the essay includes an introduction, body, and conclusion

Which of the following transitions most effectively signals a concession followed by a rebuttal?

• A'Furthermore, critics also argue that…'
• B'Therefore, since this evidence is clear, we can conclude…'
• C'Admittedly, some research suggests that remote work reduces collaboration; however, this…
• D'In addition to the points above, it is also true that…'

Which sentence demonstrates the most effective use of precise, formal diction for a GRE Issue essay?

• A'The thing about climate policy is that it's really complicated and there are lots of dif…
• B'Climate policy presents a genuinely complex challenge because it requires reconciling im…
• C'Climate policy is hard because of money and stuff like that.'
• D'Everyone knows that climate change is a big deal and governments need to do something ab…

Which of the following revisions best improves concision without losing meaning? Original: 'Due to the fact that the company had experienced a significant decline in its overall revenue figures during that particular fiscal year, it became necessary for the management team to make the decision to implement a series of cost-cutting measures.'

• A'Because revenue declined sharply that fiscal year, management implemented cost-cutting m…
• B'The company, due to significant revenue declines in that particular fiscal year, decided…
• C'Revenue declined, and then cost cuts happened as a result of the management team's decis…
• D'The fiscal year saw significant revenue decline figures, and thus cost-cutting measures…

Which of the following sentences demonstrates problematic syntax that would hurt a GRE AWA score?

• A'Although technology has transformed communication, many scholars argue that face-to-face…
• B'The economy, which depends on consumer spending, grows when wages rise.'
• C'Because of the fact that people who work in offices that are located in urban areas ofte…
• D'Governments that invest in early childhood education tend to see long-term reductions in…

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of 'syntactic variety' that the GRE AWA rubric rewards?

• AUsing only short, simple sentences throughout the essay for clarity
• BAlternating between complex sentences with subordinate clauses, compound sentences, and o…
• CBeginning every sentence with the word 'I' to maintain a consistent personal voice
• DWriting exclusively in the passive voice to sound more academic and objective

What does the qualifier 'to some extent' accomplish in the following thesis? 'To some extent, social media has improved political discourse, but its amplification of extreme voices has ultimately made it a net negative for democratic deliberation.'

• AIt weakens the thesis by refusing to take a full stance and will lower the score
• BIt demonstrates nuance by conceding a partial truth of the opposite view before asserting…
• CIt signals to the reader that the writer is unsure of their position
• DIt is unnecessary filler and should be deleted to make the thesis stronger

A student uses only personal anecdotes and no broader evidence in an Issue essay about the value of public libraries. Which rubric criterion does this approach most likely hurt?

• AOrganization
• BAnalytical development and use of compelling, relevant evidence
• CGrammar and conventions
• DThesis clarity

An essay on the prompt about whether universities should require all students to study abroad scores a 3. Which description BEST explains why?

• AThe essay is grammatically perfect but takes no clear position
• BThe essay presents a position but reasoning is thin, examples are vague, and the essay lo…
• CThe essay takes a sophisticated position but contains one misspelled word
• DThe essay has five well-developed paragraphs but uses too many direct quotes from academi…

Which of the following statements about the GRE Analytical Writing score is correct?

• AThe AWA score is included in the 260–340 combined GRE score
• BThe AWA score is reported separately on a 0–6 scale and does not affect the Verbal or Qua…
• CA score of 3.5 is not possible because the scale only uses whole numbers
• DTest-takers can choose to cancel their AWA score independently of their Verbal and Quanti…

In argumentation, what is a 'warrant'?

• AA formal citation that provides evidence for a claim
• BThe underlying logical principle or assumption that connects evidence to a claim and expl…
• CA qualification that limits the scope of an argument
• DThe counterargument that must be addressed in every essay

The following example is used to support the claim that 'economic inequality undermines democracy': 'In ancient Athens, democratic participation was limited to property-owning citizens, which excluded women, slaves, and the poor, resulting in policies that served the wealthy.' What type of example is this, and how effective is it?

• AA current statistical example; highly effective because it uses data
• BA historical example; effective because it is specific, names a mechanism (exclusion of n…
• CA personal anecdote; moderately effective but limited in generalizability
• DA hypothetical example; useful but weaker than a real-world case

Which of the following is the WEAKEST type of evidence in a GRE Issue essay body paragraph?

• AA well-developed hypothetical scenario that illustrates a logical principle
• BA historical case with named parties and explained outcomes
• CThe vague claim 'studies have shown that…' without specifying the study or its findings
• DA specific example from the writer's professional or academic field that is explained in…

Read the following Issue prompt and identify the instruction-set type: 'The most significant threat to global stability today is economic inequality, not military conflict.' 'Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.' Which of the following best describes what this instruction requires?

• AAgree fully with the statement and provide three supporting reasons
• BEvaluate both when the statement holds true and when it does not, then explain how those…
• CWrite a comprehensive history of economic inequality and military conflict
• DFocus exclusively on counterarguments to the statement

Which of the following errors is most characteristic of a score-2 ('Seriously Flawed') GRE AWA essay?

• AOccasional spelling errors that do not interfere with meaning
• BA thesis that is somewhat vague but present
• CSevere and pervasive errors in grammar and mechanics that result in incoherence, combined…
• DTwo body paragraphs instead of three

A test-taker finishes drafting their Issue essay with three minutes remaining. Which proofreading task should they prioritize?

• ARewrite the introduction with more sophisticated vocabulary
• BRead through for sentence fragments, run-ons, and unclear pronoun references that might i…
• CAdd more examples to each paragraph to increase word count
• DChange all active-voice sentences to passive voice for a more academic tone

Which of the following sentence pairs demonstrates the most effective use of a transition to show logical progression?

• A'Education improves outcomes. Also, education is good for society.'
• B'The funding gap in public schools limits access to advanced coursework. Consequently, st…
• C'Many people support education reform. Many people also support healthcare reform.'
• D'Schools need more funding. Schools also need better teachers.'

What does 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' mean, and how is it relevant to GRE Analytical Writing?

• AIt means 'after this, therefore because of this' — the error of assuming that because B f…
• BIt means 'to the person' — the error of attacking an argument by attacking its source rat…
• CIt means 'false middle' — the error of assuming only two options exist when more are avai…
• DIt means 'circular argument' — the error of using the conclusion as a premise in the argu…

Read the following conclusion paragraph and identify its primary weakness: 'In conclusion, as I have discussed, education is good. I talked about funding, teachers, and students. There are many issues in education. In conclusion, education matters and society should care about it.' Which statement best identifies the core flaw?

• AThe conclusion is too formal and should sound more conversational
• BThe conclusion is repetitive ('in conclusion' appears twice), adds no synthesis, and mere…
• CThe conclusion should include a new argument to leave the reader thinking
• DThe conclusion is too short; it needs at least 100 words to be effective