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How to Write an Effective Argument Essay for the GRE

The Graduate Record Examination, or GRE, has three sections. One of those sections measures a student’s analytical writing skills. For this section, students are required to write both an issue essay and an argument essay. GRE graders look closely at the evidence included in a student’s argument essay as well as the organization of all of the various components. Learn what an argument essay is and get some tips on how to write an outstanding one for the GRE.

What Is the GRE Argument Essay?

The argument essay on the GRE requires you to evaluate an argument put forth by an author. Your job is to examine the author’s reasoning and evidence as well as the overall organization of the argument.

Ultimately, you must decide whether the author’s argument is logical. If you decide that the author’s argument is illogical, then you must give specific reasons to support that analysis. For example, you may point out unanswered questions or faulty pieces of evidence in the argument. Alternatively, if you decide that an author’s argument is logical, then you must offer evidence supporting that analysis.

When writing this essay, you should not reveal whether they agree or disagree with the author’s argument. Furthermore, you should not share their views on the subject being discussed. The purpose of this essay is to reveal your skills in analyzing and evaluating an argument, not in presenting your own argument. 

Tips for Writing GRE Argument Essays

There are many useful tips that can help you write an excellent argument essay. GRE test-takers may want to begin by jotting down notes on a scrap piece of paper as they read the author’s argument. The few minutes that you dedicate to taking these notes can ensure that you include all of the important points in the final essay.

You should always read the instructions paired with each GRE argument task before starting to write. Not every argument essay has the same set of instructions – for example, some instructions require you to focus on an author’s assumptions, while others ask that you focus on unanswered questions in the argument. These are just two examples out of many types of instructions given to students tackling the GRE argument essay. It’s also a wise idea for you to draft an outline for the essay before beginning to write it. Following an outline can increase the clarity and organization of an argument essay.

Our GRE courses at Varsity Tutors provide students with the tools and strategies they need to craft a notable argument essay. Our instructors have taken and mastered the GRE, enabling them to pass on valuable tips to students. We offer several tutoring options , including online and in-person instruction, to make GRE preparation as convenient as possible for our busy students.`

Preparing for the Argument Essay

Most students want to do everything they can to write a clear, organized argument essay. GRE prep should include essay-writing practice. You can write a practice argument essay, then dissect it sentence by sentence to make sure it contains all of the necessary elements. As a note, the GRE gives students 30 minutes to write an argument essay, so it’s a good idea for you to time yourself when you complete your practice essays. That way, you know how much time you can spend on making notes, drafting an outline, and writing the essay.

It’s also helpful for you to study essays that received a high score on the GRE. An outstanding argument essay contains vocabulary words that add to the clarity of the writing. You can expand your supply of vocabulary words by reading online articles, newspapers, and magazines. You may want to jot down some words commonly used in these publications. Flashcards are helpful study tools for students who are learning unfamiliar words and their definitions as well.

Our instructors at Varsity Tutors can teach you how to write a GRE argument essay. We offer practical advice and guidance that students can use as they move through the steps of writing a convincing essay. Also, our instructors give valuable encouragement to students to help them have a confident mindset on test day. Contact Varsity Tutors today and let us help you boost your essay-writing skills!

Want to jump-start your GRE preparation? Check out our variety of GRE Course and Private Tutoring options.

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7 Tips for a Perfect GRE Argument Essay

Write at least three practice essays..

There are a few different ways ETS may present the argument, so you want to practice at least three essays to fully prepare yourself. Peer reviews are especially valuable, so ask a friend or colleague for feedback after you complete each essay. You can find official Argument essay prompts  here .

Point out false generalizations, inadequate evidence, and misleading surveys or statistics.

The argument presented will ALWAYS have flaws. Look for sweeping statements and faulty conclusions. If data is provided, you can be sure that it is not 100% sound, which you can certainly use to your advantage!

Discuss 2-3 specific assumptions that the author makes.

There may be more than 3 assumptions that the author makes, but you want to take the time to fully discuss 2-3 rather than simply listing out all of the problems you’ve discovered.

Provide alternative explanations to the presented argument.

One of the most compelling ways to undermine an argument is to provide alternative explanations for the assumptions presented. If there are other possibilities that the author didn’t discuss, the argument is fallible.

Avoid first-person and self-reference.

There is no need to include phrases like “I think” or “I believe” since the essay is written from you perspective. As a rule, you do not want to use “I” in your introductory or concluding paragraph.

Make strong, declarative statements.

Be forceful with your language. You want to convey confidence that you have found flaws within the presented argument.

Provide specific recommendations for changes that would strengthen the argument.

Many GRE students find that writing the concluding paragraph can be one of the most challenging parts of the essay. Use the concluding paragraph as an opportunity to point out that the argument could be strengthened if additional data were provided. Be sure to state what specific information would need to be included to bolster the argument.

BONUS: Know how the GRE Analytical Writing Essays are scored

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GRE Essay Prompts

The GRE Analytical Writing section requires you to write two essays—one will be an analysis of an issue and the other will be an analysis of an argument. You will have 30 minutes for each essay. Try your hand at these GRE essay prompts, and read our explanations for what makes a great GRE essay. We pulled these sample questions from our book GRE Premium Prep and from our GRE prep course  materials.

The GRE Issue Essay

The Issue Essay of the GRE requires you to present your opinion on the provided topic.

Issue Topic

You will be given a brief quotation that states or implies an issue of general interest and specific instructions on how to respond to that issue. You will have 30 minutes to plan and compose a response in which you develop a position on the issue according the specific instructions. A response to any other issue will receive a score of zero.

A high-scoring Issue essay accomplishes four key tasks: (1) considers the complexities of the issue; (2) supports the position with relevant examples; (3) is clear and well organized; (4) demonstrates superior facility with the conventions of standard written English. Make sure that you respond to the specific instructions and support your position on the issue with reasons and examples drawn from such areas as your reading, experience, observations, and/or academic studies.

[+] See the Answer

The GRE Argument Essay

The Argument Essay of the GRE asks you to examine and critique the logic of an argument.

Argument Topic

You will be given a short passage that presents an argument, or an argument to be completed, and specific instructions on how to respond to that passage. You will have 30 minutes to plan and compose a response in which you analyze the passage according to specific instructions. A response to any other issue will receive a score of zero.

A high-scoring Argument essay accomplishes these tasks: (1) clearly identifies and insightfully analyzes important features of the argument; (2) develops ideas clearly and logically with smooth transitions; (3) effectively supports the main points of the critique; (4) demonstrates superior facility with the conventions of standard written English. Note that you are NOT being asked to present your own views on the subject. Make sure you that you respond to the specific instructions and support your analysis with relevant reasons and/or examples.

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GRE Argument Essay Template and Sample Argument Essay

• April 6, 2023

The second essay you’ll have to write when you sit down to take the GRE is the GRE Argument Essay. It’s only 30 minutes and can be a bit of a challenge…

So you need a strong game plan.

But should you really worry about the essays since they don’t factor into your quantitative and verbal scores?

Absolutely!

We tell our students that while the essay scores may not be of importance to graduate programs, the ease of writing them should be important to you. The Analysis of an Issue and Argument essays are the first sections of the GRE. You don’t want to go into them frazzled and anxious. You definitely don’t want to finish them feeling like you could have done better. Unfortunately, this anxiety will carry into the rest of the test and NOT pave the road to earning your best GRE score.

To help you relax into the essays and the rest of the test, we’re sharing the exact template and sample essay we show our GRE students. Before you take a look, read these tips on how to practice with them.

GRE Argument Essay Practice Tips

1. Words to use in every argument essay are in blue on the template.

You want to have these transitions and links well practice so that you can use them automatically on the test. Obviously, this essay is HIGHLY dependent on the one provided in the prompt, so much of what you write is unique to the question.

2. Your GRE argument essay should be 4 or 5 paragraphs depending on the question.

Some questions ask you to evaluate another opinion, discuss a disadvantage, or give an opposing viewpoint. Therefore, you need another body paragraph to respond to that part of the prompt.

3. The sample GRE argument essay is directly from ETS, so don’t copy the essay.

Think about how your examples and reasons can be used to respond to the prompt.

PEEL means Point – Example – Explanation – Link. The blue in the sample essay shows how well the body paragraphs conform to the PEEL writing format.

5. Always outline your essay first.

It is very obvious to a trained reader when students don’t outline their essays first. You just have to jot down your opinion and reasons or examples in a quick list. This quick outline will help keep you focused and make your writing more cohesive.

6. Check out the full list of GRE argument essay prompts .

You shouldn’t write essays for each prompt (there are a lot). However, you should read over the whole list looking for differences in the ways questions are asked. Then, pick 10 prompts to practice outlining. Of those 10, pick 5 essays to write fully.

7. For extra practice, work on the parts, rather than the whole.

Just write an introduction, a body paragraph, or a conclusion for some of the essay prompts. After outlining, of course. This type of focused writing will improve the individual parts of the essay, resulting in an entire essay that is much better overall. You don’t have to write the parts for the same essay. Switch it up!

8. When you write a full essay, do it in 30 minutes.

Practice the way you are going to perform. By the time you write your second full essay, you should be writing in only 30 minutes. Set a timer and type the essay on the computer without using spell check or Grammarly. Ideally, you will write the essays when you do a full-length GRE practice test . It’s important to develop stamina for the full 4-hour test.

GRE Argument Essay Template

In the argument provided [or letter or memorandum] , the author asserts that [his recommendation or proposal]. The author’s argument does not make a persuasive case for [goal of the argument]. This argument lacks sufficient logical reasoning and appropriate evidence, and thus, is not strong enough to [goal of the argument].

First, write your first reason that the argument is not sound here. For example, put your example of the assumptions the argument depends on here. You can use quotation marks if you directly reference the text. Explain your example with consideration of the stated and unstated assumptions. To strengthen her argument, the author would benefit from add the link to your thesis about the argument here.

In addition, write your second reason that the argument is not sound here. For instance, put your example here. Explain your example with consideration of the stated and unstated assumptions. Unless add specific link to the argument, it can not be used to effectively back the author’s argument.

[You may need another paragraph depending on what the prompt asks you to do.]

The conclusion should consist of a restatement of the argument goal, a restatement of your thesis, and a closer. The location of these in the paragraph will be different based on how you choose to write it.  

GRE Argument Essay Sample Prompt

In surveys, Mason City residents rank water sports (swimming, boating and fishing) among their favorite recreational activities. The Mason River flowing through the city is rarely used for these pursuits, however, and the city park department devotes little of its budget to maintaining riverside recreational facilities. For years there have been complaints from residents about the quality of the river’s water and the river’s smell. In response, the state has recently announced plans to clean up Mason River. Use of the river for water sports is therefore sure to increase. The city government should for that reason devote more money in this year’s budget to riverside recreational facilities.

Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on the assumptions and what the implications are if the assumptions prove unwarranted.

Sample GRE Argument Essay

[Restatement of the given argument] In the argument provided, the author asserts that the Mason City government ought to devote more money to riverside recreational facilities. [Your thesis] The author’s argument does not make a cogent case for increased resources based on river use. [Overview of reasons related to goal] This argument is rife with holes and assumptions, and thus, not strong enough to lead to increased funding.

[First reason] Citing surveys of city residents, the author reports city resident’s love of water sports. It is not clear, however, the scope and validity of that survey. [Example] For example, the survey could have asked residents if they prefer using the river for water sports or would like to see a hydroelectric dam built, which may have swayed residents toward river sports. [Explanation] The sample may not have been representative of city residents, asking only those residents who live upon the river. The survey may have been 10 pages long, with 2 questions dedicated to river sports. We just do not know. [Link] Unless the survey is fully representative, valid, and reliable, it can not be used to effectively back the author’s argument.

[Second reason] Additionally, the author implies that residents do not use the river for swimming, boating, and fishing, despite their professed interest, because the water is polluted and smelly. [Explanation] While a polluted, smelly river would likely cut down on river sports, a concrete connection between the resident’s lack of river use and the river’s current state is not effectively made. Though there have been complaints, we do not know if there have been numerous complaints from a wide range of people, or perhaps from one or two individuals who made numerous complaints. [Link] To strengthen his/her argument, the author would benefit from implementing a normed survey asking a wide range of residents why they do not currently use the river.

[Third reason] Building upon the implication that residents do not use the river due to the quality of the river’s water and the smell, the author suggests that a river clean up will result in increased river usage. If the river’s water quality and smell result from problems which can be cleaned, this may be true. [Example] For example, if the decreased water quality and aroma is caused by pollution by factories along the river, this conceivably could be remedied. But if the quality and aroma results from the natural mineral deposits in the water or surrounding rock, this may not be true. [Explanation] There are some bodies of water which emit a strong smell of sulphur due to the geography of the area. This is not something likely to be afffected by a clean-up. Consequently, a river clean up may have no impact upon river usage. [Link] Regardless of whether the river’s quality is able to be improved or not, the author does not effectively show a connection between water quality and river usage.

[Closer] A clean, beautiful, safe river often adds to a city’s property values, leads to increased tourism and revenue from those who come to take advantage of the river, and a better overall quality of life for residents. [Restatement of the given argument/goal] For these reasons, city government may decide to invest in improving riverside recreational facilities. [Restatement of thesis] However, this author’s argument is not likely significantly persuade the city goverment to allocate increased funding.

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How to Use the GRE Essay Pool for Effective Practice

The GRE includes a unique component called the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), where test-takers are currently required to write two essays: the Issue Essay and the Argument Essay. With the upcoming changes to the GRE in September 2023, students will no longer be required to write the Argument Essay.

To prepare effectively for this section, it’s essential to practice with various essay topics. ETS, the organization that administers the GRE, provides an extensive pool of essay topics for both the Issue Essay and the Argument Essay . In this article, we will explore how to use the GRE essay pool for effective practice and enhance your essay-writing skills.

How to Train with the GRE Essay Pool:

• Track Your Journey : Keep records of your practice essays and the improvements you make over time. Seeing your progress can be a great motivator!

The GRE essay pool is like your personal training ground. Use it to hone your writing skills, get comfortable with different essay prompts, and build confidence. Remember to pay attention to structure, organization, and effective use of evidence, and develop your own unique writing style. With enough practice using the GRE essay pool, you’ll be ready to ace the AWA section of the GRE.

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Tips and hacks to ace GRE argument essay

Are you looking for tips and hacks to acing the gre argument essay to begin with, understanding the gre argument essay format is the first step toward acing the exam. continue reading this blog to find out more about getting great scores at gre argument essay writing., table of contents, the significance of the gre argument essay , how to write an argumentative essay , determine the flaw , excellent start , examine the evidence , provide examples , a powerful conclusion , continuous practice , dos and don’ts when preparing for the gre argument essay , key takeaways .

While most GRE candidates excel at verbal and mathematical reasoning, just a few excel at argument essay writing. On the other hand, students must know how to write a GRE argument essay to gain an advantage over the other candidates by scoring excellent marks in the analytical writing portion. Read the article to find out everything you need to know to nail the GRE argument essay.

The GRE argument essay assesses how well you grasp, analyze, and write an argument that differs from the issue essay. It is necessary to complete this task in 30 minutes. You can use specific writing skills learned in English compositions. 

In this essay, you must analyze an argument, identify assumptions and faults, and provide references to a certain path. Furthermore, learning how to create a solid argument essay evaluates the validity of your critical thinking, reasoning, and opinions on the argument. 

To begin an argumentative essay, you need to understand its goal and how well you can explain your point. The GRE argument essay structure considers opposing viewpoints too. The simple five ways to begin an argumentative essay are as follows.

The first paragraph of your argumentative essay should be the introduction, which introduces your topic, and sets up the rest of the article.

Using examples in the second, third, and fourth paragraphs, you must give your ideas and evidence. Each body paragraph should either present specific facts of supporting proof or disapproval of the opposing viewpoint. 

In the fifth and final paragraph, you revisit your argument in the context of all preceding evidence and concisely sum things up.

Best strategies for GRE argument essays 

The following are a few tips for the GRE argument essay. 

The first step is to identify the argument’s fault. Read the argument attentively and determine where the writer went wrong or missed something. The argument will contain some legitimate points, but it will also contain certain fallacies that you must point out during GRE 2019. 

Begin the GRE essay with a brief introduction demonstrating that you have grasped the argument and determined the conclusion. Declare unequivocally that the reasoning is wrong. The essay’s body should explain the argument’s weaknesses and understandably outline them. 

Before you begin writing the essay, take the time to grasp the author’s ideas and the evidence they utilized to support them. Now go through each piece of proof one by one. You won’t have enough time to contradict them if you choose too many. If you choose too few, you will expand on only those, and the essay will feel dragged. It is why the number three is ideal. 

Choose those that you can confidently reject or demonstrate. You must do this before writing the essay to avoid confusion later in the GRE test . 

Once you’ve established the assumptions, you’ll be refuted and need to provide examples demonstrating the assumption’s failure. Examples must be relevant and specific. It is the most practical approach to demonstrate to the examiner that you have grasped the argument, carefully examined it, and can dismiss it based on logic. 

Your ending should emphasize that the argument contains numerous problems that render its reasoning unacceptably flawed. You may even suggest a few adjustments that might improve the argument. The goal is not to utterly dismiss the argument. It demonstrates that the argument is weak and not supported by the data supplied. Also, throughout the essay, employ bold and powerful GRE terminology. 

Correcting your essay can help you boost your GRE score. During your GRE preparation, you should practice composing sample essays. It will assist you in developing a strategy for the argument essay in GRE and give you a better understanding of what to expect throughout the exam. GRE prep classes are an excellent method to strengthen your writing skills and score higher on the exam. 

Before you can learn how to start an argument in the GRE, you must first understand the test’s dos and don’ts. The following can help you prepare for your GRE argument essay-

● The GRE argument essay is a significant scoring component of the exam. 

● An argumentative essay has five parts, i.e., a powerful introduction with a clear and concise thesis, three body paragraphs supported by thorough evidence, and a convincing conclusion.

● You can utilize transitional words and phrases to help the readers follow the reasoning.

Question 1: What is an acceptable GRE argument essay score? 

Answer: The GRE argument essay is graded from 0 to 6. A decent score, on the other hand, can range from 4.5 to 6. 

Question 2: Can I omit analytical writing from the GRE? 

Answer: The GRE analytical essay section may include two essays. Skipping this does not improve your overall GRE score. Failure to complete this portion may affect your chances of admission to a graduate program. 

Question 3: What characteristics distinguish a strong argumentative essay? 

Answer: The argumentative essay demands well-researched, accurate, complete information. The theory should be supported by some empirical, logical, statistical, or factual evidence. 

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GRE Argument Essay

April 13, 2024 By novapress

The GRE, whether taken on a computer or with paper and pencil, can seem like a daunting task.  You can study for how to improve your score with the multiple choice sections, review math concepts and grammar rules, and study vocabulary, but how do you prepare for the GRE argument essay?  Never fear!  Nova Press is here!

The Nova Press GRE Prep Course can help you learn what to expect for the essays and gives specific suggestions on how to approach them.  It explains how the essays are scored and reviews basic grammar and punctuation rules to help you immediately reduce your error rate.  Correct and incorrect examples are shown along with explanations for how to decide.  Topics include commas, colons, semicolons, dashes, apostrophes, sentence fragments, run-on sentences, pronoun errors, and many more!  Practice tests follow each review section, allowing you the opportunity to put your skills to work.  The answers and explanations are in a section following the practice test, so you can check your work when you’re done.

If you’re ready to move on to the writing portion, Nova Press’s GRE Prep Course gives you some guidance on ideal basic structure for the GRE argument essay.  Beyond just refining introductory and conclusion paragraphs, Nova Press also gives hints on how to develop your writing style.  Suggestions on how to vary your sentence structure, expand your transition vocabulary, and how to use figurative language are covered in detail, followed up with examples and another practice test.

Once you feel like you have all of these useful devices under control, it’s time to move on to the actual writing.  The Nova Press GRE Prep Course gives you the grading rubric, so you know what they’re looking for.  As the GRE has two different essays, one requiring you to take a stand on an issue and another asking you to evaluate an argument, each essay is treated separately.  The section devoted to the “Issue Essay” works out specific steps to follow to make sure you are clear on what the issue is and on how to map out your response before you dive into writing.  The “Argument Analysis Essay” section also gives a rubric, but it then focuses on helping you make sure you determine the correct conclusion based on the information given.  The book also works to make sure you know the different between inductive and deductive reasoning.  Both sections give practice prompts and then walk through the steps explained earlier to lead you to a successful essay.  It also provides sample essays for you to review and evaluate.

Don’t let the GRE argument essays get you down!  With Nova Press’s GRE Prep Course , you can master the GRE.  Just takes a little guidance and some hard work.

Originally posted 2012-03-24 04:43:39.

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GRE Issue Essay: Elements, Structure, Strategies & Samples

Feeling overwhelmed by the GRE Issue Essay? This writing task can be a challenge for even the most skilled essay writers. The GRE Issue Essay tests your critical thinking and analytical writing skills within a strict time limit. It requires you to take a stance on a complex issue, develop a sound argument, and support it with clear reasoning and well-chosen examples.

In this blog, we’ll provide you with the strategies and knowledge you need to write a winning Issue Essay. We’ll break down the format, provide effective writing tips, and share the secrets behind strong arguments. Plus, we’ll share five real student essays that exemplify top-notch writing to inspire you.

What is the GRE Issue Essay?

The GRE Issue Essay is a writing task designed to assess your critical thinking and analytical writing skills. Unlike the Argument Essay, which focuses on evaluating the logic of a presented argument, the Issue Essay asks you to take a stance on a broad, debatable topic.

The prompt will typically be a statement that you’ll need to analyze and form an opinion on. This statement could be about the merits of a particular approach to a problem, the value of a certain quality, or the impact of a specific trend. Your job is to develop a well-reasoned argument for either agreeing or disagreeing with the statement.

Key Elements of a GRE Issue Essay Task

1. nature of the topic.

You can expect prompts from diverse fields like education, politics, or technology. Deep subject knowledge isn’t crucial, but a well-rounded understanding helps. You can draw on your own experiences and general knowledge to develop a strong response.

2. Type of writing

Use logic and justification accurately. Build a well-reasoned argument supported by strong evidence. You can also use real-life examples to bolster your stance and show your awareness of current events. However, avoid fabricated examples, as they will question your credibility.

3. Agreeing and disagreeing

Unlike the Argument essay’s predetermined problematic thesis, the Issue essay encourages acknowledging opposing viewpoints. Briefly discuss situations where the opposing view might hold weight. It’s easier to agree with the prompt, but a well-argued disagreement is equally valid.

4. Perspectives

There’s no right or wrong answer. The essay tests your ability to choose a side and defend it convincingly. Unlike the Argument essay’s intentionally flawed thesis, here you’ll analyze and critique the prompt itself.

5. Reasoning vs. exposing

The Argument essay focuses on dismantling a flawed argument. On the other hand, the Issue essay emphasizes building your own argument from scratch using logic and examples.

6. Freedom to express

The Argument essay restricts you to the author’s evidence and arguments. The Issue essay grants you complete freedom to draw on any relevant information to support your perspective.

Suggested: GRE Exam Pattern 2024

How to Structure the GRE Issue Essay?

The GRE Issue essay shares similarities with the classic 5-paragraph structure used in short essays. While 4–6 paragraphs are acceptable, you should limit it to a 5-paragraph approach. According to the official GRE website, graders evaluate your “skill with which you address the specific instructions and articulate and develop an argument to support your evaluation of the issue.” A well-organized essay makes your argument clear and persuasive.

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Start by clearly restating the issue you’re asked to address. Follow by expressing your position on the issue in a single sentence. Briefly introduce the key points you’ll develop in the following paragraphs. If the prompt asks you to address opposing viewpoints, mention them here. Show your understanding of the complexities of the issue.

Paragraphs 2–4: Body paragraphs

Start with your strongest point, use a clear transition phrase, and present your most impactful reason first. Provide specific examples and logical analysis to back your claim. Examples can come from various fields like history, science, or even personal experience. Clearly explain how they support your reason and, ultimately, your thesis.

Use transition phrases and follow the same structure for the remaining body paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on one distinct reason supporting your thesis. In one body paragraph, you can acknowledge a strong opposing view and explain why it’s ultimately flawed. This shows a well-rounded understanding of the issue.

Paragraph 5 (optional): Conclusion

Briefly restate the issue and your position. Remind the reader of the key arguments you presented. While not essential, a conclusion provides a sense of closure. If time is limited, focus on completing the final body paragraph with a strong supporting example. The conclusion, though desirable, can be omitted without penalty.

Suggested: GRE AWA Sample Essays

5 Strategies to Ace the GRE Issue Essay

1. structure is key.

Even a passionate and well-reasoned response can fall flat without a solid essay structure. The classic format with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion ensures your message is clear and organized.

2. Engaging writing

Repetitive sentence structure leads to a monotonous reading experience. Include variety in your writing! Don’t be afraid to experiment with colons, dashes, and semicolons. Similarly, play with syntax. Avoid the monotonous “noun-verb-adjective” pattern, as it can make your writing sound hesitant. Utilize impactful modifiers, active voice, and cause-and-effect sentences to add confidence and distinction to your writing. For example, “It is unacceptable for the president to permit this unconstitutional overreach of power by Congress” conveys a stronger message than “The president shouldn’t allow Congress to pass the law…” Remember that engaging writing goes beyond analysis and organization; it shapes the overall impression your essay leaves on the reader.

3. Specificity is important

Hypotheticals can be useful tools, but only if they convincingly support your point. Vague generalities like “some people,” “mankind,” or “you” lack impact. For example, if you’re arguing that knowledge can be destructive, stating “Oppenheimer’s knowledge of nuclear fusion allowed him to create the most destructive weapon the world had ever known” is far more impactful than the bland “scientists can sometimes use knowledge to hurt us.”

4. Stay on point

Perhaps the most important element (especially if you don’t want a failing grade) is staying on topic. Imagine you’re writing about the destructive potential of knowledge. Don’t veer off course by discussing technology’s downsides and smartphone addiction. That discussion, while potentially interesting, doesn’t address the prompt of “knowledge as a destructive force.” Focus on the most compelling examples that directly relate to your chosen topic.

5. Choose a side and stick to it

Pick a stance and defend it with conviction. It doesn’t matter which side you choose; just avoid presenting both sides as if you’re undecided. This “waffling” approach weakens your argument.

5 Essay Prompts and Samples

We’ve explored the key objectives and strategies of the GRE Issue Essay. Now, let’s look at some prompts and sample essays. All the essays analyzed here were written in response to actual GRE Issue prompts.

GRE Issue Essay Prompt 1: Universities should require students to take courses only within those fields they are interested in studying.

Gre issue essay prompt 2: those who see their ideas through, regardless of doubts or criticism others may express, are the ones who tend to leave a lasting legacy., gre issue essay prompt 3: the luxuries and conveniences of contemporary life prevent people from developing into truly strong and independent individuals., gre issue essay prompt 4: it is no longer possible for a society to regard any living man or woman as a hero., gre issue essay prompt 5: governments should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development..

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From the Desk of Yocket

The purpose of the GRE exam Issue Essay is to assess a candidate’s ability to develop a well-reasoned argument. It pushes test-takers to think critically about complex topics, develop a clear position, and support it with evidence. This ability to understand an issue, form an opinion, and articulate it persuasively is important for success in many graduate programs.

However, the Issue Essay format also has limitations. The short time frame restricts the depth of analysis one can achieve. Real-world writing often involves collaboration, revision, and access to research materials. Additionally, the focus on a single, predetermined topic can feel somewhat artificial compared to the more nuanced and open-ended writing tasks encountered in academic settings. With Yocket GRE prep , you will receive valuable assistance in essay writing, helping you refine your skills and tackle the GRE essays with confidence.

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Gre prep online guides and tips, how is the gre essay scored.

Your GRE Writing score is a kind of cyborg measurement that averages together both human and machine ratings and melds them into an Analytical Writing score on a scale of 0-6. But how does a human grade the essay? Is the computer grader trustworthy?

In this article, we’ll explain the details of the GRE essay scoring process and the rubrics used by the human graders to derive your two essay scores.

Feature image credit: Seems Legit – panel 3 of 6 /used under CC BY-SA 4.0 /Cropped and resized from original.

GRE Writing Scores: A Roadmap

The GRE essay scoring process is a little complicated because it involves both human and computer graders . Each essay (analyze an issue and analyze an argument) is first graded by a trained human grader on a scale of 1-6. The scale used for essay scoring is holistic, which means you won’t automatically get points off after a certain number of errors. Instead, you’ll be graded on the overall quality of your essays.

Your essay is next sent through the e-rater , which is described on the GRE website as “a computerized program developed by ETS that is capable of identifying essay features related to writing proficiency.” The e-rater program likely grades essays on quantifiable metrics like level of vocabulary difficulty, sentence structure, length of essay (word count and number of paragraphs), and so on. Because it’s pretty difficult to write a program that can judge an essay based on content, it’s possible you could fool the e-rater with a long off-topic essay that uses high-level vocabulary.

But that’s where the human essay graders come in. If the human and computer graders “closely agree,” then the average of their two scores is the score you receive for that essay task. However, if the two scores do not “closely agree, ” then a second human is brought in to grade and the final score is the average of the two human-assigned scores . So if you tried to sneak an off-topic essay by the e-rater, it would be caught by the human grader and a second human grader would be brought in. Even if the human grader scored your essay way higher than the e-rater, you’d still end up with two human graders.

After both of your essays have been scored by e-rater and human grader(s), your overall GRE Writing score is then calculated. To get this number, your scores on the Issue and Argument task are averaged together to give you a final Analytical Writing score on a scale of 0-6 (with 0.5 increments). For instance, if you got a 4/6 on the Issues essay but a 5/6 on the Argument essay, your total GRE Analytical Writing score would be 4.5.

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GRE Essay Scoring: Issue Task

The Analyze an Issue task on GRE Writing asks test takers to read a statement about an issue, take a position, and develop and support that position with evidence and reasoning. For your essay to score highly, you’ll need a clear thesis statement presenting your point of view and multiple examples that back up your claims . How well you accomplish this task dictates how well you’ll do on the Issue essay.

Fortunately, ETS is very up front about what specific benchmarks Issue essays need to meet to reach each score level. Below, I’ve listed the descriptions for 6-, 4-, and 2-scoring Issue essays.

As the above table shows, the holistic GRE Writing score is arrived at by assessing an essay’s quality across many different dimensions: analysis, ideas, development, support, organization, vocabulary & sentence structure. The guiding principle that is used to differentiate between different score levels across all areas, however, is precision .

The more precise you are in formulating an opinion on the issue, in developing and supporting your thinking, in organizing your thinking, and in choosing your words to convey your thinking, the better GRE Writing score you’ll get.

GRE Essay Scoring: Argument Task

The GRE argumentative essay task requires test takers to read an argument and analyze it. The specifics of how this analysis should be done varies from task to task (read more about the eight different kinds of argumentative essay prompts in this article ), but basically you’ll have to evaluate the position or recommendation put forward and decide whether or not it’s reasonable .

Below are the different characteristics of essays scoring a 6, 4, or 2 on the Argument task . As you go through, you may notice some similarities between it and the rubric for the Issue task.

Again, as with the Issue task, the main dimension that separates different score points for the GRE Argument task is level of precision . Instead of being judged on precision in formulating an opinion on an issue, your essay will be judged on precision in analyzing and explaining your analysis of the given argument. Similar to the Issues essay, however, high-scoring Argument essays will still need to demonstrate precision in ideas, development, support, organization, and vocabulary.

How Are GRE Writing Scores Evaluated by Grad Schools?

Now that you understand how the GRE essay scoring works, the question becomes how much grad schools care about GRE Writing scores. The near-unanimous answer, based on the number of schools and programs I researched, seems to be a resounding “not much.”

If schools really want applicants to have specific test scores, they’ll list GRE Writing score cutoffs on their websites (more about what a good GRE Writing score is here ). For the most part, though, as long as you get a 4.0 or above, you’ll be fine, even for the most competitive programs. Find out more about how your GRE score plays into graduate school admissions here .

What’s Next?

Want to learn more about how scoring works on the GRE? Try our complete guide to GRE scoring . If you took the old GRE, you can follow our instructions to learn how to convert your old GRE score to its equivalent new GRE score .

Hoping for more essay-specific scoring advice? We tell you how to get a perfect six on the Issue and Argument essays here .

Need some quick tips to boost your GRE Writing score? Then you should be sure to read our collection of the best strategies and tips to improve your score here .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Laura Staffaroni

Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel and fulfill their college and grad school dreams. View all posts by Laura Staffaroni

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Exploring the changes in the 2023 GRE Exam

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) has long been the compass guiding ambitious individuals toward their dreams of pursuing graduate, business, and law programs abroad. Starting September 22, 2023, ETS (Educational Testing Service) is unveiling a sleeker, more efficient version of the GRE exam, designed to empower countless students on their journey to academic success.

A Swift, Efficient GRE Exam Experience

The most monumental change in the GRE landscape is the remarkable reduction in testing time – nearly halved! What used to demand almost 4 hours will now be expertly completed in just 1 hour and 58 minutes .

This significant time-saving transformation is meticulously crafted to enhance your test-taking experience, easing the demands on your mental and physical stamina while steadfastly preserving the integrity and reliability of GRE scores.

Rapid Score Delivery for Your Convenience

Official GRE scores, which took 10-15 days to arrive, will now grace your inbox within 8-10 days post-examination . This streamlined process enables you to expedite your application, meet those stringent deadlines, and advance further on your academic journey.

A Closer Look at the 2023 GRE Changes

Dive deeper into the transformative changes awaiting you in the 2023 GRE exam -

1. Farewell to the Argument Essay Section

In the previous GRE format, the Analytical Writing section mandated an argument essay , where you'd analyze and critique a presented argument. The 2023 GRE revamps this by bidding farewell to the argument essay section , freeing you from this task.

2. Adieu to the Experimental (Unscored) Section

The GRE used to feature an experimental section, a research-based component with unscored questions. With the 2023 GRE, this experimental section takes its final bow , ensuring your focus solely on the scored sections.

3. Bid Farewell to the 10-minute Break

Gone is the 10-minute break that interrupted your flow after the third section. The 2023 GRE exam forges ahead without this breather, optimizing efficiency.

4. Precision and Focus in Question Reduction

The Quantitative Reasoning section trims down from 40 to 27 questions . Similarly, in the Verbal Reasoning section , the number of questions scales from 40 to 27 , covering reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence questions.

Harnessing the Positive Impact

These changes don't just shorten the GRE exam; they revolutionize your experience while underlining ETS's commitment to your success.

ETS has democratized higher education by streamlining the GRE exam , making it more accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. Your journey is now more attainable, allowing you to focus on your academic aspirations rather than the logistics of a lengthy GRE exam.

In conclusion, the 2023 GRE heralds a transformation toward a more efficient, accessible, and student-centric GRE exam experience. With a shorter duration, expedited score delivery, and unwavering assessment rigor, the new GRE exam promises to be your steadfast companion on the path to academic achievement. ETS's commitment shines through, opening doors for you on your remarkable journey towards higher education.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q.1) is gre changing in september 2023.

Yes, the GRE is undergoing significant changes in September 2023. These changes are designed to make the test more efficient and accessible for students.

Q.2) What are the new GRE changes for 2023?

The new GRE changes for 2023 include a significant reduction in testing time, removal of the argument essay section, elimination of the experimental (unscored) section, and the removal of the 10-minute break. The number of questions in the Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections is also reduced.

Q.3) What is the new format for the GRE?

The new format for the GRE in 2023 is more efficient, with a nearly halved testing time of 1 hour and 58 minutes. It no longer includes the argument essay section, experimental section, or the 10-minute break.

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