How to ace the GRE Analytical Writing section

For many GRE test-takers, the Analytical Writing section can be the most daunting part of the exam. This segment requires you to “analyze an issue” and compose a complete essay within a strict 30-minute time frame. Success on the GRE Analytical Writing section rests on several factors: understanding the length expected for the GRE essay, knowing the correct essay format, and mastering how to write better essays under time pressure.

To guide your GRE essay preparation, we’re sharing proven tips for GRE Analytical Writing based on extensive experience scoring thousands of real test-taker responses. You’ll learn exactly what constitutes an effective GRE essay, discover recommended essay structures and formatting best practices, and gain access to a scored GRE essay example for hands-on review. By studying strong example essays and expert strategies, you’ll be equipped to achieve your target GRE percentiles for Analytical Writing and boost your total writing score.

The GRE “Analyze an Issue” Essay

The GRE “Analyze an Issue” essay is the central task of the GRE Analytical Writing section. In this section, you are presented with a statement and are required to analyze it critically, then respond by clearly choosing to agree or disagree. Your GRE essay should present a well-developed argument, supported by evidence such as data, logical reasoning, and relevant real-world examples.

A high score on the GRE Issue essay depends on taking a definitive stance; there is no opportunity to argue from a neutral or middle-ground perspective. This does not mean that you should not address the opposing side. A well-formed essay will explore all points of view as a whole, but it will still make a definitive argument on one side or the other.

To help you master the structure and expectations of a successful GRE essay, we’ve provided one of our top-scored GRE essay examples below. Review this sample and the detailed tips that follow to further elevate your performance in Analytical Writing.

Example Issue Essay and tips for improvement

Prompt:

People’s behavior is largely determined by forces not of their own making.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

Response:

I believe that people determine their own behavior through their actions because reacting to challenging situations changes greatly depending on the person, people with similar situations such as siblings differ to great extremes and as the brain evolves making choices for oneself is a lot more probable.

First, the way in which people react to challenging situations largely depends on their own control of their emotions thus affecting their outward behavior. A study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Human Development by Professors John Krakour and Diana Arnold analyzed people’s reactions to a challenging situation through a controlled experiment. A group of fifty participants was randomly selected consisting of people with similar socio-economic backgrounds, racial identities and age and gender to reduce the number of external variables. Each person was asked to order a cup of coffee from the same local establishment; the baristas were instructed to stall that person’s order and eventually get it wrong. Professor Krakour and Arnold observed the study participants’ reactions to this unfavorable situation and found no patterns in their data sets. They concluded based on this data that people’s reactions are largely determined by their own control of their behavior and the same situation will provoke different behaviors even from people with similar backgrounds creating evidence that people’s behaviors are not determined by forces outside of their control.

The previous paragraph described how people react and behave differently to the same situation, another persuasive argument is that siblings whose nurture, home and family situations and genetic makeup are extremely similar to each other behave differently providing evidence that forces outside of own’s control are not very prominent in determining behavior. Researchers Joanna Goldstein and Andrea Schmid conducted a study at Stanford University evaluating 25 sets of siblings and their behavior patterns in different situations. Their experiment consisted of controlled interviews with each of the siblings individually and asking them a series of questions about how they would behave given a certain situation. Their evidence presented large ambiguities between sibling responses and displayed little correlation between responses. Goldstein and Schmid concluded that behavioral actions are dependent on the individual rather than forces outside of their control such as genetic make-up or home environment.

In addition to the previous stated arguments, there is sufficient evidence that as the brain evolves, behavioral actions become more of a choice and within a person’s control. A study at the University of San Francisco examined behavioral control of a group of 30 people aged five, 30 people aged twenty-five and 30 people aged fifty finding sufficient evidence that with age behavioral actions become more contained and conformed to society’s standards.

In conclusion, my belief that people largely determine their own actions rather than outside factors and forces out of their control is supported by a variety of studies examining different aspects of behavior and manipulating a variety of variables.

Score: 4.0 (63rd percentile)

How to improve this issue essay:

• Write more to improve your essay quality. One of the most effective strategies for scoring higher on Analytical Writing is simply to increase the length of your essay response. This particular submission contains around 480 words, but aiming to produce 50% more words can make a substantial difference in both depth and clarity. In general, a higher word count correlates with a better score.
  • Incorporating regular free-write exercises into your preparation is a proven way to break through the internal censor that often restricts the natural flow of ideas. By focusing on how to write better essays through consistent practice, you’ll not only increase your word count but also enhance the richness and persuasiveness of your writing.
• Reference compelling studies or examples as supporting evidence. Strengthening your argument is key to writing better essays, especially in exam settings like the GRE. Since you’re not expected to be an expert, you don’t need to be hyper-specific with your real-world examples or sources. Add enough pertinent, high-level information to enhance your point, but don’t stress over exact numbers. A general overview of a study’s findings is fine.
  • You can follow the methods taught at Achievable GRE to seamlessly incorporate persuasive evidence into your essay. Demonstrate clear reasoning, and remember: half the grading is automated, so plausibility and clarity in your logic matter much more than taking the time to back each of your arguments with real-life studies.
• Set the stage with an orienting context before taking a position. Another core tip for improving your GRE essay score is to always provide context before introducing your thesis or opinion. This approach allows the autograder to easily recognize both your thesis statement and conclusion, improving your overall score. It also indicates to the reader that you fully understand the question's context. Adding relevant background information in both your introduction and conclusion not only increases word count but also enhances readability and coherence for your essay. Structuring your writing this way sets a solid foundation for argumentation and clarity.
  
  

Closing thoughts

Writing on standardized tests is different than composing an essay for English class or drafting an article. The goal is to write a focused essay in a limited timeframe that takes an explicit side on an issue. Using a formulaic approach to writing on the GRE ensures that you’re covering the key components necessary for a high score. GRE essays should always have an introduction and conclusion, supporting evidence, and a substantial word count that’s manageable to reach in the allotted time. Spelling, grammar, and general flow will also be assessed in your final score, so be sure to save some time at the end of the section to quickly proofread your work. Practice under time constraints using credible writing prompts, and seek out a GRE preparation program with an accurate essay grader to track your progress.

For even more essay examples and tips, check out our complete guide to boosting your GRE essay score.