What are some must-know GRE AWA tips for someone targeting 4.5+?

Question

S Raghav · Accepted Answer

When I got a 5.5 in AWA, it wasn&rsquo;t because I had amazing writing skills&mdash;it was because I planned before writing. I always spent the first 3&ndash;4 minutes organizing my thoughts so I wouldn&rsquo;t waste time figuring things out mid-essay. Once I had a plan, it was easier to write smoothly.
I also made sure every paragraph had one main idea. I didn&rsquo;t try to cram too much into one section. I used examples I was comfortable with&mdash;like everyday situations, news articles, or stuff from school&mdash;and avoided anything too complex. One thing that really helped was learning to include a short counterpoint paragraph. Just acknowledging the other side made my essays feel more balanced.
At the end, I saved a couple of minutes to read through everything and fix basic errors. That small check often helped me clean up sentences or catch missing words. That routine worked better than trying to sound overly formal.
For more details you can read this blog on "Master GRE Test Analytical Writing"

Divakshi Arora · Answer

Scoring 4.5 or higher on the GRE AWA depends less on big words and more on clear thinking and solid structure. The most effective essays tend to follow a simple and predictable format: a short introduction that directly addresses the prompt, two or three body paragraphs with specific examples, and a brief conclusion. Time management also plays a major role&mdash;spending the first few minutes outlining the argument helps avoid mid-essay confusion. Using examples that are easy to explain&mdash;like real-world situations or familiar issues&mdash;works better than forcing complex references. Practicing 8&ndash;10 full-length essays before the test builds both speed and confidence. Most importantly, the argument should stay focused and logical from start to finish without jumping between too many ideas.