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Last Updated on November 23, 2023
A solid GMAT score goes a long way in increasing an applicant’s competitiveness for MBA admissions, so it’s not surprising that most MBA applicants recognize the importance of earning a competitive overall GMAT score.
However, many GMAT-takers wonder whether their scores on the essay portion of the GMAT, which is known as the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section, also affect their competitiveness in MBA admissions, and if so, what constitutes a good GMAT AWA score. In this article, we’ll answer these and other common questions about the GMAT essay.
Let’s begin by discussing what the GMAT AWA is.
- The GMAT AWA
- How the GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Section is Scored
- How Important is the GMAT AWA Section for MBA Admissions?
- What is a Good GMAT AWA Score?
The GMAT AWA
The GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) measures your ability to examine and assess the underlying reasoning behind an argument, and then present your critique in the form of a written essay.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT AWA measures your ability to examine and assess the reasoning behind an argument, and then present your critique in the form of a written essay.
Specifically, for the GMAT AWA, you’ll be presented with a one-paragraph prompt that contains a scenario or argument, which is often presented in the context of a statement provided by a company or a newspaper editorial.
Regardless of which AWA prompt you’re given, the argument will be flawed in some way(s). For example, the argument may contain flawed logic, faulty assumptions, conclusions that are supported by inadequate evidence, issues in the way supporting data was collected, or unreasonable comparisons.
The goal of your essay is simple: expose these flaws!
TTP PRO TIP:
The goal of your GMAT AWA essay is simple: in a well-organized essay, expose the flaws present in the argument prompt.
According to the GMAC, an ideal essay should:
- Identify and analyze significant flaws in the argument
- Support the critique using relevant supporting reasons and/or examples
- Be clearly organized and coherent
- Demonstrate control of language, diction, syntax, and conventions of written English
You’ll have 30 minutes to read the prompt and write your essay.
The good news is that with some practice and the right strategies, earning a perfect score on the GMAT AWA section is within reach for most GMAT test-takers.
KEY FACT:
On the GMAT, you have 30 minutes to read the AWA prompt and write your essay.
Let’s now discuss how the AWA is scored.
How the GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Section is Scored
Many GMAT-takers wonder whether the GMAT AWA counts toward their GMAT score. The GMAT AWA has its own unique score that does not count toward a test-taker’s overall GMAT score of 200 to 800.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT AWA has its own unique score that does not count toward a test-taker’s overall GMAT score of 200 to 800.
The GMAT AWA is graded on a scale of 0 to 6, in half-point increments. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a score of 6, the highest possible score, is considered “outstanding,” 5 is “strong,” 4 is “adequate,” 3 is “limited,” 2 is “seriously flawed,” and 1, the lowest score possible, is considered “fundamentally deficient.”
Your GMAT AWA essay will be graded once by a human reader and once by a computerized grading program. If these two scores differ by one point or less, the two scores will be averaged to yield your final scaled score. So, for example, if the human grader gives you a 5 and the algorithm gives you a 6, your final scaled score will be 5.5. If the two scores differ by more than one point (for example, the human grader gives you a 4 and the algorithm gives you a 6), then a second human grader will step in to grade your GMAT AWA essay and help determine your final score.
KEY FACT:
Your GMAT AWA essay will be graded once by a human reader and once by a computerized grading program.
Now that we understand the basics of how the AWA is scored, let’s review the GMAT AWA percentiles.
GMAT AWA Percentiles
Just as your other section scores are associated with percentile rankings, your AWA score will be associated with a score percentile. These percentile rankings allow you (and schools) to see how your GMAT AWA score compares to those of other GMAT test-takers.
Let’s now discuss how important the GMAT AWA is for MBA admissions.
How Important is the GMAT AWA Section for MBA Admissions?
Out of every scored section of the GMAT, the AWA section probably carries the least importance for admissions to business schools. However, it would be a mistake to assume that having the least importance is the same as having no importance. In fact, the GMAT analytical writing score does matter for MBA admissions.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT AWA score DOES matter for MBA admissions.
The reason that the GMAT AWA score matters is that the purpose of the AWA section is to determine how well you’re able to convey ideas in written form, a skill that will be of utmost importance in business school and beyond. After all, how clearly you’re able to communicate in written form will have a significant impact on your success as an MBA student and as a business professional.
So, don’t neglect preparing for the AWA section!
Now, how much the GMAT AWA section matters to you is a function of a number of variables, some of which are easy to quantify.
If you’re applying to an M7 MBA program, such a Harvard Business School or Stanford Graduate School of Business, or a top 10 MBA program, then your GMAT AWA score will be of greater significance than it will if you’re applying to, for example, a top 25 MBA program. Thus, if you have your sights set on a top school, you’ll want to earn a 5 or above on the GMAT AWA. In fact, to be safe, a score of 5.5 or 6 should probably be your goal. After all, why let a low AWA score jeopardize your chances of admission to a great MBA program, right?
If you’re a nonnative speaker of English, then your GMAT AWA score might be of greater significance than it would be if English were your first language. With a few notable exceptions, the language of business and business schools is largely English. Therefore, business schools seek to ensure that their students have a strong command of written English. The good news is that if English is your second language, you can lean into preparing for the AWA, earn a strong AWA score, and leverage this score to help you stand out among the pack of other applicants whose native language is not English. Thus, if you’re a nonnative English speaker, you’ll want to earn a 5 or above on the GMAT AWA section.
TTP PRO TIP:
If English is your second language, earning a GMAT AWA score of 5 or above can help you stand out among the pack of other MBA applicants whose native language is not English.
If you’ve scored 4 or below on the AWA section, you might want to consider retaking the GMAT. Such a low score could raise some red flags and signal to MBA admissions committees that your writing skills are not developed enough that you’ll be able to handle the coursework in their programs.
In addition, a large disparity between the level of writing in your GMAT AWA essay and the level of writing in your MBA application essays could cause admissions to wonder who actually wrote — or helped you to write — your application essays. Of course, no one wants a situation like that when applying to business schools.
KEY FACT:
A large disparity between the level of writing in your GMAT AWA essay and the level of writing in your MBA application essays could cause admissions to wonder who actually wrote — or helped you to write — your application essay.
So then, what is a good GMAT essay score?
What is a Good GMAT AWA Score?
A good GMAT AWA score is one that serves as an asset for your applications to business school. For almost all GMAT test-takers reading this article, a good GMAT essay score is 5 or above.
Does that mean that an applicant will not be accepted to business school without an essay score of 5 or above? No, of course not. People are accepted to a wide range of MBA programs with AWA scores lower than 5, especially if their total GMAT scores and work experience are impressive. However, why risk giving admissions committees any reason to doubt your ability to thrive in an MBA program environment? Spending a bit of time to prepare yourself to earn a 5 or higher on the GMAT AWA is a small investment that could pay big dividends.
TTP PRO TIP:
Spending a bit of time to prepare yourself to earn a 5 or higher on the GMAT AWA is a small investment that could pay big dividends.
