The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section of the Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®) consists of two 30-minute writing tasks.

1. Analysis of an Issue and
2. Analysis of an Argument.

The GMAT AWA test is designed to assess your ability to think critically and to communicate your ideas.

The GMAT test expects you have to complete the Analysis of an Issue in the first 30 minutes and take another 30 minutes to complete the Analysis of an Argument. The topics are presented sequentially one at a time. You cannot either exceed the time limit for a section or carry forward extra time at the end of one essay and use it for the remaining essay.

The topics that one encounters for these two essays in the GMAT test are of general interest related to business or a variety of other subjects. Your capacity to write analytically is the only skill that is assessed and therefore, you are not required to have prior knowledge of the essay topic presented to you.

The scores that you get in the GMAT AWA section are independent of the scores that you receive for the objective type questions of the GMAT test. While you are graded on a scale of 200 to 800 in the GMAT Test based on your performance in the objective questions asked in section 3 (GMAT Quant Section) and Section 4 (GMAT Verbal Section), you will receive a score that ranges from 1 to 6 for your performance in the AWA section. 6 represents a very high proficiency in the GMAT AWA section.

Most candidates who take the GMAT test do not practice adequately for the GMAT AWA test. Though, it does not affect your scores that you receive out of 800, a good score in the AWA section of the GMAT will be an added advantage when you apply to the B Schools.

Hence, make sure that your GMAT Preparation does not suffer from lack of practice in the AWA section.

This section requires you to analyze the issue presented and explain your point of view on the topic. You should be able to consider various perspectives by using relevant reasons and/or examples drawn from your experience, observations, or reading and develop your own position on the issue. Remember that there are no correct answers to this.

What is being assessed in the GMAT AWA - Issue Analysis?
The Analysis of an Issue tests your ability to explore the complexities of an issue, if appropriate, to take a stand based on your understanding. You will be evaluated on

1. The way you structure your presentation
2. The line of argument that you adopt
3. Supporting evidence that you present to strengthen your view and
4. If you have been able to identify potential counter arguments to your view and addressed them and
5. Finally, your language skills (simple and effective).

This section requires you to write a critique of the given argument by analyzing the reasoning presented to you in the argument. As against the first section - AWA Issue analysis, you are not supposed to present your own views on the subject. You are expected to critically analyse the presented argument and evaluate if it is a logically sound one. As part of your analysis of the argument you should present your analysis by identifying weaknesses in the present argument and provide suggestions to strengthen the argument.

How are you evaluated in the AWA - Argument Analysis section?
The Analysis of an Argument tests your ability to think and write an appropriate critique of a specific conclusion based on your line of thinking. It expects you to have basic knowledge about the way a logically sound argument is structured.