Before you start with the GRE AWA section read the "Criteria for Scoring the GRE Essays" and read some sample essays and arguments (read chapter 6 to get an idea how the issues and arguments are). Also read issues and arguments with different scores of 6 and 5 and see how the rating criteria has been applied to each one. This will give you an idea before starting as to what standard of writing is expected.
In GRE AWA section, always use pencil and paper to jot down some points on the topic you want to attempt. Do not always choose the first topic in the issue section you see but take time to evaluate on which ones you could actually get more points and examples to support your points. Make five or six high level points on that topic. When you start writing maintain a flow. Its very important to make the reader be interested in your style.
Make it lucid. Its not always important to use bombastic words in your issue or argument. Use words which implies the meaning correctly and make your arguments cogent by supporting them with examples. If you can its better to use examples pertaining to the United States or North America. Refrain from only taking examples w.r.t India. You can read more on other cultures and countries to use them in your essays. its always good to cite statistics if you know the source and the figures correctly. Reading New York Times, Economic Times, Wall Street journals and journals and case studies from different B Schools helps. When you have free time read them online. it helps you get adapted to the online reading as in GRE you will read and write everything on the computer unless you want to take a paper based test. (In India mostly everyone takes an online test. )
For the argument section, always refute the notion suggested. Most of the arguments would have major logical mistakes like data give would be insufficient or illogical to reach the conclusion the argument suggests or the comparison cited might not have complete relevance. Like the argument might suggest "Company X made profit A% but did not have policy Z whereas company Y made profit B% but had this policy Z". So policy Z might be necessary for company X to make profit. Most of the arguments might be in this line. Here you may say, well company X and company Y might have several other policies which might have triggered the profit. Its not right to judge, only policy Z has caused a profit without evaluating all the policies and conditions of company X and Y. Also the profit % is dependent on the total revenue of company X and Y and their local markets. It might be Company X did not make enough profit because it spend money in expanding its market in some other country or anything like that. Usually you can follow these leads to refute any given argument.
This section tests your logical thinking ability. How you deal with data and how you respond to suggestions. So to prove your analytical skills in this section, as soon as you read an argument, make note where all it uses statistics and data references. What conditions are provided for the different comparisons in the argument and if they are valid. Do not repeat points. Make 5 to 6 short paragraphs. Start with a very brief introduction explaining what the argument states. Thereafter start pointing out the flaws in the argument. Each paragraph should convey a different point supported by examples. You can use facts or hypothetical examples as well. (like I stated a hypothetical example above). End with a cogent conclusion summarizing why you think the arguments are not strong enough to make the suggested conclusion.
In GRE AWA section, always use pencil and paper to jot down some points on the topic you want to attempt. Do not always choose the first topic in the issue section you see but take time to evaluate on which ones you could actually get more points and examples to support your points. Make five or six high level points on that topic. When you start writing maintain a flow. Its very important to make the reader be interested in your style.
Make it lucid. Its not always important to use bombastic words in your issue or argument. Use words which implies the meaning correctly and make your arguments cogent by supporting them with examples. If you can its better to use examples pertaining to the United States or North America. Refrain from only taking examples w.r.t India. You can read more on other cultures and countries to use them in your essays. its always good to cite statistics if you know the source and the figures correctly. Reading New York Times, Economic Times, Wall Street journals and journals and case studies from different B Schools helps. When you have free time read them online. it helps you get adapted to the online reading as in GRE you will read and write everything on the computer unless you want to take a paper based test. (In India mostly everyone takes an online test. )
For the argument section, always refute the notion suggested. Most of the arguments would have major logical mistakes like data give would be insufficient or illogical to reach the conclusion the argument suggests or the comparison cited might not have complete relevance. Like the argument might suggest "Company X made profit A% but did not have policy Z whereas company Y made profit B% but had this policy Z". So policy Z might be necessary for company X to make profit. Most of the arguments might be in this line. Here you may say, well company X and company Y might have several other policies which might have triggered the profit. Its not right to judge, only policy Z has caused a profit without evaluating all the policies and conditions of company X and Y. Also the profit % is dependent on the total revenue of company X and Y and their local markets. It might be Company X did not make enough profit because it spend money in expanding its market in some other country or anything like that. Usually you can follow these leads to refute any given argument.
This section tests your logical thinking ability. How you deal with data and how you respond to suggestions. So to prove your analytical skills in this section, as soon as you read an argument, make note where all it uses statistics and data references. What conditions are provided for the different comparisons in the argument and if they are valid. Do not repeat points. Make 5 to 6 short paragraphs. Start with a very brief introduction explaining what the argument states. Thereafter start pointing out the flaws in the argument. Each paragraph should convey a different point supported by examples. You can use facts or hypothetical examples as well. (like I stated a hypothetical example above). End with a cogent conclusion summarizing why you think the arguments are not strong enough to make the suggested conclusion.
