7 Things to remember before you start

prepping for the AWA

Before you dive into AWA preparation, there are a few things you should know about the
AWA. Many of these facts will ease your AWA fears and bring a smile to your face!
1. Why is the AWA section on the GMAT?
Each section of the GMAT is carefully constructed to test your readiness for an MBA
program and for your post-MBA career. One of the skills you will definitely need post-MBA
is an ability to analyze an argument impartially and convey your perspective clearly.
This is what the AWA tests you on.
2. On the AWA, you need to be a lawyer, that is, you need to find faults with the given
argument. You do not need to be a journalist, that is, you do not need to write about all
possible perspectives of an issue.
Also remember, that this is an analysis, not an opinion piece. Do not bring YOUR perspective
and your opinions into the essay. Your only goal is to analyse the given argument.
3. Unlike the Quant and Verbal sections, where your thumb-rule should be to get as high a
score as possible, we’d suggest that you do not expend too much mental energy on the AWA,
trying to score a 6 on 6.
Getting a perfect 6 will look good on your GMAT score card, and will sound great as you’re
telling your friends about it. But it will not be the make-or-break factor in your application. A
4 or a 5 is good enough.
4. The AWA is graded by an E-reader application and by a human reader. Since there is an
element of automated grading. We’ve found that if you write a substantial essay of over 500
words, and if you structure the argument well you are almost guaranteed to get a 4+ score!
5. Assuming that you prepare for the GMAT over a course of three months, we recommend
that you practice writing 5 to 10 essays, and make sure you get feedback for all of them. If
you cover this much practice ground, you’re good to go!
6. One of the best things about the AWA section is that you know all of the questions
beforehand (yes, they’re all up there on the GMAC site – Analytical Writing Section). So you
do not have to go hunting for ‘authentic’ AWA essay questions.

The AWA Writing Process

1. Write your templatized response

AWA TEMPLATE
The argument claims that < restate the argument >. Stated in this way the argument fails to
take into account a few key factors which could call the conclusion to question. It rests on
some assumptions, for which there is no clear evidence. Therefore, the argument is
unconvincing and falls apart at the seams.

Paragraph 1:
1. Firstly, ( )
2. This statement is a stretch and not substantiated in any way.
3. The argument would have been much clearer if ( )
Paragraph 2:
1. Second ( ). This is again a very weak and unsupported claim as the argument ( ).
2. For example,
3. This argument would have sounded a lot more convincing if
4. In addition, it would have been strengthened ever further if the argument provided
evidence that
Paragraph 3:
1. Finally, the argument concludes that
2. However, what is not clear here is ( )
3. If there had been evidence to support ( )
Paragraph 4
In summary, the argument fails to convince because of the faulty assumptions
aforementioned. If the argument had drawn upon examples as suggested, and thereby plugged
in the holes in the reasoning, it would have been far sounder on the whole.

2. Brainstorm
This should take you about 5 minutes:
Now that you have put the pre-planned portion of the essay down, it’s time to read the AWA
prompt and wear your thinking hat. GMAT, in its politically correct, non-partisan way, says
‘Discuss how well-reasoned you find this argument’. Remember however, that an AWA
argument is never well-reasoned!
There are always a couple of glaring flaws in logic. If these flaws do not occur to you
immediately, because of test-day stress, do not assume that you have been given a
particularly sound argument. There is no such thing on the AWA!
If you’re unable to be critical, imagine that the author of the argument is somebody you
dislike..a teacher you hated at college, or that guy who overtook you and almost dented your
car this morning! There, now you’re in the right frame of mind to attack the argument 🙂
Before you do so, you need to understand the three elements of the argument –Premise and
Assumptions, Conclusion,
Let us look at an example, and detect these three elements.
“Most companies would agree that as the risk of physical injury occurring on the job
increases, the wages paid to employees should also increase. Hence it makes financial sense
for employers to make the workplace safer: they could thus reduce their payroll expenses and
save money.”
The conclusion is the decision/statement that the author has arrived at. In this case, the
conclusion is the last sentence – “Hence it makes financial sense for employers to make the
workplace safer: they could thus reduce their payroll expenses and save money.”
The premises are the building blocks of facts on which the conclusion rests. In other words, a
premise is what is offered as support for the conclusion. In this case, the premise is – Most
companies would agree that as the risk of physical injury occurring on the job increases, the
wages paid to employees should also increase.
Assumptions are the unstated, unwritten premises that plug the gap between the written
premises and the conclusion. It is the assumptions that you need to attack on the AWA!
How do you attack assumptions?
Remember that an assumption can be incorrect for a variety of reasons. Here are a few types
of incorrect assumptions –
1. The Sampling Assumption – The sampling argument assumes that a small group is
representative of a much larger group to which it belongs. Is it generalising based on one
example?
2. The illogical analogy assumption – The illogical analogy states that because something
applies to A, it applies to B also.
3. The Causal Assumption – The Causal Assumption confuses correlation with causation.
That means, just because ‘A’ usually occurs after ‘B’ occurs, does not necessarily imply that
B happens because of A.
4. The Data Bias – This occurs when the data for a statistical inference itself is drawn from a
sample that is not representative of the population under consideration. This is a case of
faulty data leading to faulty assumptions.
5. The Non Sequitur – This simply means, finding a connection where there is none. Non
Sequitur means “does not follow,” which is short for: the conclusion does not follow from the
premise.
Don’t let these categories overwhelm you. We’ve put them down here to get you thinking.
However, you can find faulty assumptions with ease, even if you have no clue what a non
sequitur is!
As you brainstorm, you will need to jot down your thoughts on the scratchpad. Keep it crisp
and brief. Make sure you have these things down –
1. Conclusion + Premise:
2. Flawed Assumption #1:
3. Flawed Assumption #2:
4. Flawed Assumption #3:
For each assumption, also make a cursory note of why it is flawed, an example that talks
about why it is flawed, and what additional data would strengthen the argument.

3. Write!
This should take you about 15 minutes:
Here is where you fill in your templatized response with specific details.
Paragraph 1:
The only detail you need to add to the first paragraph is a summary of the argument that is
presented. In the above template, your summary should go here ->
Paragraph 2:
1. Start off by pointing out the first flawed assumption.
2. Explain why this assumption is flawed.
3. Give an example that supports the flaw.
4. Explain what further information could have strengthened this argument.
Paragraph 3:
1. Start off by pointing out the second flawed assumption.
2. Explain why this assumption is flawed.
3. Give an example that supports the flaw.
4. Explain what further information could have strengthened this argument.
Paragraph 4:
1. Start off by pointing out the third flawed assumption.
2. Explain why this assumption is flawed.
3. Give an example that supports the flaw.
4. Explain what further information could have strengthened this argument.
Paragraph 5:
This is the concluding paragraph. You already have it down in your template! 🙂
4. Proofread
This should take you about 3 minutes:
Are you wondering if three minutes is really enough time to proof-read a 500 word essay?
Here’s the deal – The AWA section is about whether you can analyse an argument and
discuss it in an articulate manner. It is not a test of grammar and spelling. Hence, the GMAT
will excuse minor errors in spelling and grammar.
However, you should understand that a human reader is going to be reviewing your work,
and any human reader will have an unconscious bias against bad grammar and spellings.
Hence, you want to keep your essay as error-free as possible, without worrying about it too
much.
Three minutes should be able time for you to quickly glance through the document and make
sure you haven’t made any obvious errors.
Voila! 🙂 Your AWA essay is ready!
Sample AWA Essays

Sample Essay 1
”Most companies would agree that as the risk of physical injury occurring on the job
increases, the wages paid to employees should also increase. Hence it makes financial sense
for employers to make the workplace safer: they could thus reduce their payroll expenses and
save money.”
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze
the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument.

For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlying the
thinking and what alternative explanations or counter examples might weaken the conclusion.
You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what
changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would
help you better evaluate its conclusion.
Introduction:
This argument states that it makes financial sense for employers to make the workplace safer
because lower wages could then be paid to employees. This conclusion is based on the
premise that as the risk of physical injury increases, the wages paid to employees should also
increase. However, this argument makes several unsupported assumptions. For example, the
argument assumes that the costs associated with making the workplace safe do not outweigh
the increased payroll expenses due to hazardous conditions.
Body Paragraph 1
The first issue to be addressed is whether increased labor costs justify large capital
expenditures to improve the work environment. Clearly one could argue that if making the
workplace safe would cost an exorbitant amount of money in comparison to leaving the
workplace as is and paying slightly increased wages than it would not make sense to improve
the work environment. For example, if making the workplace safe would cost $100 million
versus additional payroll expenses of only $5,000 per year, it would make financial sense to
simply pay the increased wages. No business or business owner would pay all that extra
money just to save a couple dollars and improve employee health and relations. To consider
this, a cost benefit analysis must be made. I also feel that although a cost benefit analysis
should be the determining factor with regard to these decisions making financial sense, it may
not be the determining factor with regard to making social, moral and ethical sense.
Body Paragraph 2
Finally one must understand that not all work environments can be made safer. For example,
in the case of coal mining, a company only has limited ways of making the work environment
safe. While companies may be able to ensure some safety precautions, they may not be able
to provide all the safety measures necessary. In other words, a mining company has limited
ability to control the air quality within a coal mine and therefore it cannot control the risk of
employees getting black. In other words, regardless of the intent of the company, some jobs
are simply dangerous in nature.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while at first it may seem to make financial sense to improve the safety of the
work environment sometimes it truly does not make financial sense. Furthermore, financial
sense may not be the only issue a company faces. Other types of analyses must be made such
as the social ramifications of an unsafe work environment and the overall ability of a
company to improve that environment (i.e., coal mine). Before any decision is made, all this
things must be considered, not simply the reduction of payroll expenses.

Sample Essay 2
The following appeared in a memorandum issued by a large city’s council on the arts.
“In a recent citywide poll, fifteen 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.”
Discuss how well reasoned… etc.
Introduction
In this argument the author concludes that the city should allocate some of its arts funding to
public television. The conclusion is based on two facts: (1) attendance at the city’s art
museum has increased proportionally with the increases in visual-arts program viewing on
public television, and (2) public television is being threatened by severe cuts in corporate
funding. While this argument is somewhat convincing, a few concerns need to be addressed.
Body Paragraph 1
To begin with, the argument depends on the assumption that increased exposure to the visual
arts on television, mainly public television, has caused a similar increase in local art-museum
attendance. However, just because increased art-museum attendance can be statistically
correlated with similar increases in television viewing of visual-arts programs, this does not
necessarily mean that the increased television viewing of arts is the cause of the rise in
museum attendance.
Body Paragraph 2
Moreover, perhaps there are other factors relevant to increased interest in the local art
museum; for instance, maybe a new director had procured more interesting, exciting
acquisitions and exhibits during the period when museum attendance increased, in addition,
the author could be overlooking a common cause of both increases. It is possible that some
larger social or cultural phenomenon is responsible for greater public interest in both
television arts programming and municipal art museums.
Body Paragraph 3
To be fair, however, we must recognize that the author’s assumption is a special case of a
more general one that television viewing affects people’s attitudes and behavior. Common
sense and observation tell me that this is indeed the case. After all, advertisers spend billions
of dollars on television ad time because they trust this assumption as well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I am somewhat persuaded by this author’s line of reasoning. The argument
would be strengthened if the author were to consider and rule out other significant factors that
might have caused the increase in visits to the local art museum.

Sample Essay 3
The following appeared in a report presented for discussion at a meeting of the directors of a
company that manufactures parts for heavy machinery.
“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 manager of the purchasing department.”
Discuss how well reasoned… etc.
Introduction
In response to a coincidence between falling revenues and delays in manufacturing, the report
recommends replacing the manager of the purchasing department. The grounds for this action
are twofold. First, the delays are traced to poor planning in purchasing metals. Second, the
purchasing manager’s lack of knowledge of the properties of metals is thought to be the cause
of the poor planning. It is further recommended that the position of the purchasing manager
be filled by a scientist from the research division and that the current purchasing manager be
reassigned to the sales department. In support of this latter recommendation, the report states
that the current purchasing manager’s background in general business, psychology, and
sociology equip him for this new assignment. The recommendations advanced in the report
are questionable for two reasons.
Body Paragraph 1
To begin with, the report fails to establish a causal connection between the falling revenues of
the company and the delays in manufacturing. The mere fact that falling revenues coincide
with delays in manufacturing is insufficient to conclude that the delays caused the decline in
revenue. Without compelling evidence to support the causal connection between these two
events, the report’s recommendations are not worthy of consideration.
Body Paragraph 2
Second, a central assumption of the report is that knowledge of the properties of metals is
necessary for planning in purchasing metals. No evidence is stated in the report to support
this crucial assumption. Moreover, it is not obvious that such knowledge would be required to
perform this task. Since planning is essentially a logistical function, it is doubtful that in-
depth knowledge of the properties of metals would be helpful in accomplishing this task.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this is a weak argument. To strengthen the recommendation that the manager
of the purchasing department be replaced, the author would have to demonstrate that the
falling revenues were a result of the delays in manufacturing. Additionally, the author would
have to show that knowledge of the properties of metals is a prerequisite for planning in
purchasing metals.

Sample Essay 4
The following appeared in an announcement issued by the publisher of The Mercury, a
weekly newspaper.
“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.”
Discuss how well reasoned… etc.

Introduction
A newspaper publisher is recommending that the price of its paper, The Mercury, be reduced
below the price of a competing newspaper, The Bugle. This recommendation responds to a
severe decline in circulation of The Mercury during the 5-year period following the
introduction of The Bugle. The publisher’s line of reasoning is that lowering the price of The
Mercury will increase its readership, thereby increasing profits because a wider readership
attracts more advertisers. This line of reasoning is problematic in two critical respects.
Body Paragraph 1
While it is clear that increased circulation would make the paper more attractive to potential
advertisers, it is not obvious that lowering the subscription price is the most effective way to
gain new readers. The publisher assumes that price is the only factor that caused the decline
in readership. But no evidence is given to support this claim. Moreover, given that The
Mercury was the established local paper, it is unlikely that such a mass exodus of its readers
would be explained by subscription price alone.
Body Paragraph 2
There are many other factors that might account for a decline in The Mercury’s popularity.
For instance, readers might be displeased with the extent and accuracy of its news reporting,
or the balance of local to other news coverage. Moreover, it is possible The Mercury has
recently changed editors, giving the paper a locally unpopular political perspective. Or
perhaps readers are unhappy with the paper’s format, the timeliness of its feature articles, its
comics or advice columns, the extent and accuracy of its local event calendar, or its rate of
errors.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this argument is weak because it depends on an oversimplified assumption
about the causal connection between the price of the paper and its popularity. To strengthen
the argument, the author must identify and explore relevant factors beyond cost before
concluding that lowering subscription prices will increase circulation and, thereby, increase
advertising revenues.