The GRE General Test is important for candidates who seek to take admission in different graduate, business, and doctoral degrees. The test provides schools with a common measure for comparing candidates’ aptitude for degree that they have applied. The test, once taken, is valid for five years. GRE consists of three papers – Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing. Of these three, Analytical Writing is the most difficult as it requires candidates to come up with reasons supporting an issue and an argument. The candidate’s ability to understand complex ideas is tested. Candidates must articulate and support an issue or argument with critical analytical skills.
Grishma Nanavaty, Partner and Lead Counselor, ReachIvy, said “Students should first take a self-evaluation test. This will help them identify the areas they need to work on.” Unlike quantitative and reasoning ability which are evaluated on a score between 130-170, analytical writing is evaluated on a scale of 0-6 (in half point increments).
“Students should develop good reading skills. Practice writing within the allotted time is very important.” Time available for each section is 30 minutes.
321-325 is considered as a ‘good’ overall score in GRE. For the analytical paper, a score above 4 (on a scale of 0-6) should be comfortable for you to secure admission in your dream college. Nanavaty said, “A ‘good’ score in analytical paper depends on the program one is applying for. If it is a degree for creative writing, a better analytical score is expected. Here, a good score would mean at least a 5.”
Nanavaty said, “Preparing for any test means that students should set a realistic timeline for themselves, only then will they be able to achieve a desirable score.”