GRE Analytical Writing
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Analytical Writing measure is one of the three sections of the GRE General Test, which is used for admission to graduate, business, and law school. ETS describes the measure as assessing critical thinking and analytical writing skills - specifically your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, construct arguments, and sustain a focused and coherent discussion. It does not assess specific content knowledge, so you are not expected to bring expertise in philosophy, policy, or science. The measure consists of a single 30-minute "Analyze an Issue" task. It presents an opinion on an issue along with instructions on how to respond, and asks you to evaluate the issue, consider its complexities, and develop an argument with reasons and examples supporting your views. You type your response in a basic ETS word processor that supports inserting and deleting text, cut-and-paste, and undoing the previous action; no spellchecker or grammar checker is available. Topics span the fine arts and humanities through the social and physical sciences, and the full pool of Issue topics from which your task is drawn has been published by the GRE Program. Preparation means reviewing the scoring guide, sample topics, and scored sample essays with rater commentary, then practicing timed responses so you can plan, draft, and proofread within the limit.
What you'll study
About GRE Analytical Writing preparation
How many essays do I write, and how long do I have?
One essay. The Analytical Writing measure consists of a single 30-minute "Analyze an Issue" task. There is no second argument-analysis essay and no separate timing for planning versus writing, so you must budget the 30 minutes yourself across reading the prompt, planning, composing, and checking your work.
What exactly does the task ask me to do?
The prompt presents an opinion on an issue plus instructions on how to respond. You must evaluate the issue, consider its complexities, and develop an argument with reasons and examples that support your views. Responding to the specific instructions matters as much as addressing the general topic.
Do I need background knowledge in the topic?
No. ETS states the measure does not assess specific content knowledge. Topics range from the fine arts and humanities to the social and physical sciences, but every task is tested to ensure test takers regardless of field of study understand it and can respond easily. Use examples you genuinely know rather than inventing facts.
What tools does the essay editor give me?
A basic ETS word processor with insert text, delete text, cut-and-paste, and undo of the previous action. A spellchecker and grammar checker are not available, so leave a few minutes at the end of the timed task to catch obvious errors. Occasional slips won't affect your score, but serious, persistent errors lower it.
How is the essay scored, and what do raters look for?
ETS points candidates to the scoring guide, sample topics, scored sample essay responses, and rater commentary for the task. Reviewing these shows how raters evaluate essays and which elements they look for. Read the scored samples alongside the commentary rather than guessing what a strong response looks like.
Can I see the topics in advance?
Yes. The GRE Program has published the entire Issue Topic pool from which your test task will be selected. Working through that pool is the most direct preparation available, because you are practicing against the actual source of prompts rather than third-party imitations.
How should I spend the 30 minutes?
ETS advises budgeting time to consider the issue and the specific instructions, plan a response, and compose the essay, then saving a few minutes at the end to check for obvious errors. The goal is the best possible example of your writing under testing conditions - not the longest essay.
What mistakes most often weaken a response?
Ignoring the specific instructions attached to the prompt, describing the issue instead of arguing a position, offering assertions with no reasons or examples, and drifting off a focused discussion. Persistent spelling and grammar errors also detract from overall effectiveness. Practicing timed essays and reviewing them against the scoring guide exposes these habits before test day.
How should I order my preparation?
Start with the scoring guide and rater commentary so you know the target. Then read scored sample essays to see how strong and weak responses differ. Only then practice timed essays from the published topic pool, and review each attempt against the guide before writing the next one.
Is GRE testing available in Iran?
No. In compliance with a recent U.S. Treasury (OFAC) regulatory change, TOEFL and GRE testing within Iran has been paused effective immediately. Iranian nationals may continue to test outside Iran where testing is available. Affected test takers will be contacted directly regarding cancellations and next steps.