GRE Analytical Writing Strategy

The Analytical Writing measure is always the first section completed on the GRE, and test-takers have 30 minutes to write an essay response to a provided prompt. Whether you take the GRE at a test center or remotely at your home, you will use a computer to access a word processor developed by Educational Testing Service (ETS), the creator and administrator of the GRE. There are a few things test-takers should know about this word processing program: first, there is no spellchecker, which means it may not be immediately obvious that a word is spelled incorrectly. There is also no grammar checker on the Analytical Writing task, so sentences that are not complete thoughts, overly long, or lacking punctuation will not be flagged for further attention. And finally, there is no AI writing assistance on the GRE, leaving it completely up to test-takers to plan, craft, and organize their essays.

Unlike the other sections of the GRE, it is possible to become familiar with Analytical Writing prompts before the day of your exam. Select your preferred search engine and type “ETS Analytical Writing Prompts” into the searchbar. You will be directed to a PDF created by ETS that provides every possible Analytical Writing task prompt, one of which will be randomly chosen for you on the day of your exam. Essay topics are broad and come from the arts, humanities, social sciences, general interest, and physical sciences. Test-takers are not expected to have experience with or special knowledge of any topic, as the purpose of the essay is to write a logical, well-organized, and compelling argument, not simply to demonstrate what you know about the given issue.

Sometimes the Analytical Writing essay is referred to as the “Analyze an Issue” task, since that is what you are being asked to do. Test-takers are presented with an opinion on a given issue, then asked to evaluate that issue by developing a reasoned argument with examples to support your perspective. It does not matter whether you agree or disagree with the given issue; either position is perfectly fine as long as you are able to support your position. Essay topics tend to be complex, multi-faceted, and even controversial, giving you plenty of opportunities to make a strong case for your unique perspective.

Even if you are naturally a strong writer or enjoy writing, spend time practicing for the Analytical Writing task, as an analytical essay is very different from creative writing, writing a short story, or writing a standard undergraduate research paper. The best essays feature a variety of sentence styles utilizing varied punctuation, as well as vocabulary words that effectively convey specific meanings. The organization of your essay features heavily in the score you will receive, which means each sentence needs to make a distinct contribution while progressively moving your readers towards your overall conclusion.

There is no word limit on the Analytical Writing task, but a longer essay is not necessarily a better essay. Do not seek to achieve a high word count simply for the sake of having a lengthy essay. Avoid repeating ideas by saying the same thing using different words. Seek to be clear and succinct, writing in such a way that it is easy for your reader to understand the points you are making and ensuring those points flow from one paragraph to the next.

Time Management

One of the most important considerations while preparing for the Analystical Writing portion of the GRE is time management. The style of writing required to perform well on this task can be developed systematically, but it requires focused preparation. You should strive to develop a standard essay structure that you can use to consistently and efficiently organize your thoughts. For some students this may mean always using a five-paragraph essay structure; for others, this may mean a particular style of analyzing the prompt to find assumptions or develop an opinion. What matters is that on test day you can approach the writing task confidently and begin planning and writing your essay without wasting any time.

In addition to developing a systematic approach to your writing process, you should also become comfortable with the time constraints by practicing your writing under timed conditions. By allowing yourself only 30 minutes to plan and construct your essay, you can practice writing in conditions nearly identical to those you will experience on test day, especially if you utilize the pool of essay prompts provided by ETS. You will need to budget time to consider the prompt and its specific instructions before you begin writing your response. Practicing under time constraints can help you develop your ability to plan and write quickly, so that your official essay reflects your true writing ability, regardless of your essay prompt.

You will also want to save some time at the end of the Analytical Writing task to read back over your essay and correct any obvious mistakes you find, particularly since spelling and grammar errors will not be highlighted for you. While an error or two will not affect your score, pervasive or repeated errors will detract from the quality of your essay and result in a lower score.

Preparation Resources

ETS offers numerous resources to students preparing for the Analytical Writing section. The ETS website is the most authoritative source for descriptions of how the writing sections will be graded, sample essays for each scoring level, and a variety of preparation advice and context for writing your essays.

In addition, ETS also provides a computer-scoring service called “Scoreitnow!” that can help you practice your essay-writing skills. For $20, you can select two topics, write and submit two essays, and receive a score for each essay, as well as diagnostic feedback on what you have written. After completing two essays, you have the option to receive six additional topics free of charge, and you will receive a score for each of these six essays, should you choose to write them.

Manhattan Review offers one free GRE practice test to all prospective GRE students, which includes an Analytical Writing section that is computer-graded, using an algorithm similar to that used by ETS to grade official GRE Analytical Writing submissions. Additional computer-graded writing sections are available to students who enroll in one of our preparation programs.

Tips for Test Day

The more you practice writing analytical essays within a 30-minute time period, the more comfortable you will be performing the task on the day of your official GRE exam. Here are additional tips to keep in mind on test day to help you achieve your highest Analytical Writing score:

1. Read the prompt carefully and follow all given instructions.
2. When it comes to making an argument, go with your gut…if you strongly agree or disagree with the provided opinion, write from that perspective. If you do not have an immediate “gut reaction” to the prompt, simply choose a position and write an essay that supports whatever position you have chosen.
3. Brainstorm ideas and write down important points you want to make. Consider creating a rough outline indicating which points you wish to make in which paragraphs.
4. Make sure you limit each paragraph to only one idea. If you are talking about the health-related risks of working in a coal mine, make sure you focus only on health-related risks in that particular paragraph. Do not start writing about environment concerns, ethical objections, or the politicalization of certain forms of energy. Stick to one idea per paragraph to increase organization and readability.
5. Read your essay all the way through before submitting it and edit any obvious spelling or grammar mistakes.

Conclusion

While the Analytical Writing task may be anxiety-provoking for many students, writing an organized and compelling essay is a skill that can be mastered through consistent practice. Use the essay prompts provided by ETS and practice writing analytical essays in the same timed condition you will experience on the day of your official exam. Familiarize yourself with possible essay topics, develop a standard essay format, and ensure you are familiar with the rules of basic written English grammar.