GRE Analytical Writing: building and reviewing an Issue response
GRE Analytical Writing asks you to develop and support a response to an issue. It is a separate task from selecting answers in Verbal Reasoning. Strong vocabulary can help you express a point, but it cannot replace relevant reasoning and support.
What the review should assess
ETS’s score descriptions consider the quality of analysis, development and support, organisation, and clarity of expression. A specific phrase or a counterargument paragraph does not automatically earn a particular score. Programme expectations also vary; do not assume a universal writing cutoff for every graduate application.
An original planning exercise
Practice statement: Universities should require every student to complete an internship before graduating. This is an original exercise, not an official ETS prompt.
One defensible position is that internships can connect academic work to practice, but a universal requirement needs alternatives for students whose circumstances or fields make a conventional internship unsuitable.
- Main reason: applying knowledge in a workplace can reveal skills that classroom assessments do not capture.
- Condition: the placement needs relevant work and meaningful feedback; attendance alone is weak evidence of learning.
- Counterpoint: unpaid or distant placements can impose financial or care-related barriers.
- Qualified conclusion: require a supervised practical experience while permitting research, local projects or other suitable alternatives.
These notes are a starting argument, not a complete scored essay. Develop each point with a specific example and explain how that example supports your position. Do not invent research findings to make an example sound authoritative.
A sample 30-minute allocation
The current Issue task lasts 30 minutes. One practice allocation is five minutes to read and plan, 21 minutes to write, and four minutes to review. Adjust after trying it; this is not an official timing prescription. Follow the precise task instructions attached to the prompt.
Review the reasoning before polishing words
- Can you state the essay's position in one sentence?
- Does each paragraph develop a relevant reason rather than repeat the thesis?
- Do examples actually support the claim made?
- Have you addressed a reasonable limitation where it matters?
- Are transitions and sentence meanings clear?
Ask for feedback explaining which part of the reasoning needs work. An unofficial practice assessment is not an official GRE score.
Use ETS preparation resources to become familiar with the real task. The A flexible 12-week GRE study plan shows how writing can fit alongside Quant and Verbal. Build your calendar with the free study planner, or discuss feedback options through GRE tutoring.