gmat essay sample analysis of an argument

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Structuring Your Analysis of An Argument Essay on the GMAT

Response paragraph 1, four tips to raise your scores on gmat argument essay, tip 1: don’t lie. ever..

Made up statistics and facts won’t impress the GMAT graders, but strong organization, logical arguments, and specific supportive examples will. Don’t be tempted to make up data because you are not an “expert” in the subject matter.

TIP 2: BE CLEAR, NOT PEDANTIC.

Focus more on conveying your argument succinctly and forcefully than on sounding scholarly. Don’t include long-winded sentences that go nowhere in the hopes of sounding more intelligent. The argument essay needs to be formal, but more importantly, forceful.

TIP 3: YOU ALREADY KNOW YOUR THESIS.

No matter what the prompt, your thesis is essentially, “the argument is flawed.” All you have to do is come up with solid logic backed by specific examples that show why.

TIP 4: CRITICIZE THE WORDING OF THE ARGUMENT.

An easy way to find fault in the structure of the argument is to pick apart its diction. Just how many is “many”? Exactly what does the author mean by “benefits”? Look for vague wording and qualifying language to attack. It will be there!

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GMAT Analytical Writing (AWA) Sample Questions & Important Topics

The GMAT Analytical Writing Section is a crucial component of the GMAT exam , designed to measure your ability to think critically, communicate ideas, and express yourself in written English. This task presents an opinion on an issue and instructions on responding. You need to evaluate the problem, consider its complexities, and develop an argument with reasons and examples to support your views. 

  Dominating the GMAT Analytical Writing Section demands a strategic approach and focused practice. Yocket Premium provides expert guidance and personalized support to propel you toward success. Our team of seasoned GMAT instructors delivers in-depth video lessons, topic-specific practice questions tailored to the latest exam format, and personalized feedback to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.

GMAT Analytical Writing Section: Overview

The GMAT Analytical Writing Section evaluates your ability to critically analyze an argument, articulate your thoughts, and express them in a clear and structured manner. It's an essential part of the GMAT exam, showcasing your reasoning and communication skills.

Exam pattern and time allocation:

• Number of Questions: 1
• Time Allotment: 30 minutes

Question Categories:

The GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) includes only one question category: 

Analysis of an Argument: The argument will contain a conclusion and supporting evidence, but it will also have logical flaws or gaps in reasoning. The task is to write an essay that critiques the argument, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, analyzing the evidence and assumptions, and suggesting ways to improve the argument's logic.

GMAT Analytical Writing Section: Important Topics

Understanding the essential topics is vital for excelling in the GMAT Analytical Writing Section. While it's good to have a basic understanding of the less emphasized topics, focusing your study efforts on the core areas will provide the best results. Here are the broad areas you need to focus on: 

GMAT Analytical Writing Section Sample Questions

The GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section consists of one essay: the Analysis of an Argument. Here are a few sample questions to help you practice:

• To stay competitive and continue to attract the best employees, Company X should invest in the new state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) training system. A recent study shows that companies that have adopted VR training have seen a 20% increase in employee satisfaction and a 15% improvement in productivity. Therefore, the investment in VR technology will not only enhance Company X's reputation as an industry leader but also lead to higher profits and lower employee turnover.
• To solve the problem of traffic congestion, the city council should invest in expanding the public transportation system. A recent survey of city residents showed that 75% of respondents would be willing to use public transportation if it were more accessible. This increased use of public transportation would reduce the number of cars on the road, leading to less traffic and pollution. Moreover, expanding the public transportation system would create new jobs and stimulate economic growth in the city.
• The best way for Company Y to increase its annual sales revenue is to focus on advertising its products on social media platforms. A recent study indicates that consumers are more likely to purchase after seeing an advertisement on social media than any other form of advertising. Therefore, by shifting its advertising budget towards social media, Company Y can maximize its sales potential and outperform its competitors in the market.
• In a recent citywide poll, 15 percent more residents said that they watch television programs about the visual arts than was the case in a poll conducted five years ago. During these past five years, the number of people visiting our city’s art museums has increased by a similar percentage. Since the corporate funding that supports public television, where most of the visual arts programs appear, is now being threatened with severe cuts, we can expect that attendance at our city’s art museums will also start to decrease. Thus some of the city’s funds for supporting the arts should be reallocated to public television
• Since a competing lower-priced newspaper, The Bugle was started five years ago, The Mercury’s circulation has declined by 10,000 readers. The best way to get more people to read The Mercury is to reduce its price below that of The Bugle, at least until circulation increases to former levels. The increased circulation of The Mercury will attract more businesses to buy advertising space in the paper.
• The falling revenues that the company is experiencing coincide with delays in manufacturing. These delays, in turn, are due in large part to poor planning in purchasing metals. Consider further that the manager of the department that handles purchasing of raw materials has an excellent background in general business, psychology, and sociology, but knows little about the properties of metals. The company should, therefore, move the purchasing manager to the sales department and bring in a scientist from the research division to be the manager of the purchasing department.
• For the past century, an increase in the number of residential building permits issued per month in a particular region has been a reliable indicator of improvements to that region’s economy. If the monthly number of residential building permits issued rises consistently for a few months, the local unemployment rate almost always falls, and economic production increases. This well-established connection reveals an effective method by which a regional government can end a local economic downturn: relax regulations governing all construction so that many more building permits can be issued.
• Mental health experts have observed that symptoms of mental illness are less pronounced in many patients after group music therapy sessions and job openings in the music therapy field have increased during the past year. Consequently, graduates from our degree program for music therapists should have no trouble finding good positions. To help improve the financial status of Omega University, we should, therefore, expand our music therapy degree program by increasing its enrollment targets.
• Nationwide over the past five years, sales have increased significantly at outlet stores that deal exclusively in reduced-price merchandise. Therefore, we should publicize the new mall that we are building at Pleasantville as a central location for outlet shopping and rent storage space only to outlet companies. By taking advantage of the success of outlet stores, this plan should help ensure full occupancy of the mall and enable us to recover quickly the costs of building the mall.
• Of all the cities in their region, Beaumont and Fletcher are showing the fastest growth in the number of new businesses. Therefore, Avia should establish a commuter route between them as a means of countering recent losses on its main passenger routes. To make the commuter route more profitable from the outset, Avia should offer a 1/3 discount on tickets purchased within two days of the flight. Unlike tickets bought earlier, discount tickets will be nonrefundable, and so gain from their sale will be greater.
• In the computer hardware division last year, profits fell significantly below projections, the product line decreased from 20 to only 5 items, and expenditures for employee benefits increased by 15 percent. Nevertheless, Consolidated’s board of directors has approved an annual salary of more than $1 million for our company’s chief executive officer. The present board members should be replaced because they are unconcerned about the increasing costs of employee benefits and salaries, despite the company’s problems generating income.
• The country of Oleum can best solve the problem of its balance of trade deficit by further increasing the tax on its major import, crude oil. After Oleum increased the tax on imported crude oil four months ago, consumption of gasoline declined by 20 percent. Therefore, by imposing a second and significantly higher tax increase next year, Oleum will dramatically decrease its balance of trade deficit.
• This year, despite HomeStyle’s move to new office space, we have seen a decline in company morale and productivity and a corresponding increase in administrative costs. To rectify these problems, we should begin using a newly developed software package for performance appraisal and feedback. Managers will save time by simply choosing comments from a preexisting list; then the software will automatically generate feedback for the employee. The human resources department at Counterbalance, the manufacturer of the countertops we install, reports satisfaction with the package.
• During a two-week study of postal operations, the Presto City post office handled about twice as many items as the Lento City post office, even though the cities are about the same size. Moreover, customer satisfaction appears to be higher in Presto City, since the study found fewer complaints regarding the Presto City post office. Therefore, the postmasters at these two offices should exchange assignments: the Presto City postmaster will solve the problems of inefficiency and customer dissatisfaction at the Lento City office while the Lento City postmaster will learn firsthand the superior methods of Presto City.
• Our HuggyBunny brand is the best-selling brand of children’s clothing. Parents everywhere recognize the HuggyBunny logo as a mark of quality, and most of our customers show great brand loyalty. Sales reports have shown that parents are more likely to buy children’s clothes with the familiar HuggyBunny brand and logo than otherwise identical clothes without it. Therefore, if we use the HuggyBunny brand name and logo for the new line of clothing for teenagers that our company will soon be introducing, that clothing will sell better than it would if we labeled it with a new brand name and logo.

How to Prepare for GMAT Analytical Writing Section?

Here are some key strategies for tackling the GMAT Analytical Writing Section:

• Read the Prompt Carefully : Take a moment to thoroughly understand the argument being presented. Identify the conclusion, the evidence provided, and any assumptions made.
• Plan your Essay : Before you start writing, outline your essay. This should include your introduction, the main body paragraphs where you analyze the argument, and a conclusion.
• Use Clear and Concise Language : Write in a formal and academic tone, using clear and precise language. Avoid jargon and overly complex sentences.
• Provide Specific Examples : Strengthen your critique by providing specific examples that illustrate the flaws in the argument.
• Proofread : Take a few minutes at the end to proofread your essay for any grammatical errors or typos.

By honing these skills and developing a strategic approach, you'll be well-equipped to tackle questions in the GMAT Analytical Writing Section.

From the Desk of Yocket

The GMAT Analytical Writing Section measures your ability to think critically, communicate ideas, and express yourself in written English. It measures the test taker's ability to formulate an appropriate and constructive critique of a specific conclusion based on a specific line of thinking.

At Yocket, we offer a Consultancy Call service designed to provide personalized guidance and expert advice to students preparing for the GMAT. Our experienced mentors will help you craft a tailored study plan, offer insights into effective preparation strategies, and provide support at every step. Whether you need help with specific quantitative topics or general test-taking techniques, Yocket's consultancy can be instrumental in helping you achieve your GMAT goals. Book your consultancy call today and take the first step towards a successful GMAT journey.

FAQs on GMAT AWA Section Sample Questions

What is the GMAT Analytical Writing section?

The GMAT Analytical Writing section assesses your ability to think critically and communicate your thoughts effectively in writing. It consists of one essay task you must complete within a specific time limit.

What is the format of the GMAT Analytical Writing section?

The GMAT Analytical Writing section presents you with an argument and asks you to critique its logic and reasoning. You are expected to identify flaws, assumptions, and weaknesses in the argument, and support your analysis with clear and concise explanations.

How is the GMAT Analytical Writing section scored?

The GMAT Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6, in increments of 0.5. Two raters independently evaluate your essay, and the average of their scores is your final GMAT Analytical Writing score.

How long do I have to write for the GMAT Analytical Writing section?

You have 30 minutes to read the argument and write your essay.

How can I prepare for the GMAT Analytical Writing section?

To prepare for the GMAT Analytical Writing section, practice analyzing arguments, outlining your essays, and writing within the time limit. Familiarize yourself with common argumentative fallacies and develop strategies for identifying them. Additionally, focus on improving your writing skills, including grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure.

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An Alternative Source for AWA Scoring Templates

Students often ask me how to write an effective “Analysis of an Argument” essay on the AWA portion of the GMAT, and how to know if their attempts on practice tests are good.

Well for starters, you have to know what the test-makers are looking for and how to break down a logical argument in the first place. I teach the basics of logical reasoning in my GMAT courses (how to identify assumptions, how to strength/weaken arguments, etc.), since that’s an important part of doing well on GMAT Critical Reasoning questions. And of course those skills translate perfectly to the Argument Essay as well.

But then even once you know how to evaluate a logical argument, how do you know if the essay you’ve written about a particular prompt is worthy of a high score?

One of the most useful ways is by reading sample essay responses of varying score levels. That makes as plain as day the difference between a 6.0-level essay and, say, a 4.0-level essay.

Now, there’s just such an illustration in the GMAT Official Guide Analytical Writing Assessment chapter. The book provides a sample essay prompt and three essay responses — one that would have received a score of 6.0, one that would have received a score of 4.0, and one that would have received a score of 2.0. Getting familiar with the differences will help you with your own essays, to be sure.

Okay, so that’s helpful. But what if you want more examples?

Here are two other sources of sample Argument Essay prompts and template responses that you can use as a guide when answering similar essay topics on test day:

• The GMAC website at mba.com provides a few tips about the AWA section and a sample prompt with a 6.0-level response. You can review it here: https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat/about-the-gmat-exam/gmat-exam-structure/analytical-writing-assessment .
• You may be interested to note that the GRE also has an essay section, and one of the essays students are expected to write on the GRE is almost identical to the GMAT Analysis of an Argument essay. Fortunately for you, the ETS has done a much better job of providing information about that particular essay on their website. Indeed, they provide a sample argument prompt with six different responses of varying scores, with expert commentary. I think you’ll find it very helpful as you prepare for GMAT AWA section. You can get to the GRE’s take on the Argument Task here: https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/argument/sample_responses .

I hope you find this helpful. Oh, and one of the services I provide to students who have registered for one of my comprehensive GMAT prep courses is that I review the essays they write on their practice tests and provide personalized feedback. I’d love to be able to do the same for you and hope you’ll choose to partner with us! You can check out our online GMAT course options and choose the one that’s right for you, here: https://www.dominatethegmat.com/video-purchase/ .

Questions? Comments? Please post them below. We’re here to help!

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