How to write high scoring Issue essays in AWA

In spite of ETS pre-disclosing most of the essay questions, most of the students feel harried by the GRE writing task. It is true that composing an essay calls for more activity than answering a multiple choice question. But its certainly not beyond your reach. By navigating towards this page, you have taken the first step to overcoming your essay-phobia.

You will have Issue 1 and Issue 2 before you. Read the statements carefully with an eye for its possible pros and cons. Breakdown the claim into two or three parts, analyze it, and take a tentative position. Brainstorm for examples from present and past that will lend support to your claim. You will now have one of the issue topics to be more convincing to write than the other. Go for it!

The second step is to get hold of your scratch paper. Jot down any idea that comes to you. Don’t filter them, don’t worry about the order, just write them as they come to you. Even if it seems clichéd, far-fetched, or unconvincing at the moment, do not bother, jot them down. Next, classify your points as, ‘for’ and ‘against’ the statement’s position. My small piece of advice to you: take a neutral stand in the essay. Taking the neutral position will enable you to elaborate the pros and cons of the statement. Remember, ETS does not have any “correct” answer on an issue. In other words, what’s important to ETS is how you analytically structure your essay with relevant examples, and not whether you are for or against the issue.

Compose the essay in not more than five paragraphs, the first and last dealing with the introduction and conclusion respectively. The first sentence of every paragraph conveys to the reader the essence of the paragraph. Make sure you get them right. You can use anything like facts, quotes and general statements to catch the reader’s attention. Arrange your paragraphs such that your essay flows logically and persuasively from one point to the other. In the conclusion paragraph, phrases like “to conclude”, “in sum” can be used. Make sure your introductory and concluding paragraphs are consistent with each other.

You can find sample Issue essays here: http://www.ets.org/gre/general/scores/how/issue/index.html

How much time is needed to Study for the GRE?

This is a very common doubt but unfortunately there is no fixed answer for it. If you want to find how long you need to study for GRE then you should do the following. Take one of the two GRE Powerprep downloadable test(you need to fill up the form before you download it) which are available in the official site or you should try out one of the full length practice tests which are given in the GRE Barrons book.The time needed to study for GRE will depend on what marks you get in the practice test and how easily you can improve if needed. Just take one powerprep test now, you should take the second one right before the actual exam.

Depending on the score you get on this practice test you should decide how long you will need to practise to get your score as score to 800 in each section as possible. You should analyze the score section wise and then based on how fast you can improve you should give yourselves time accordingly.
 
Finding your weak areas in GRE:

Ideally you should take this weakness identifying test about five months before the date. Once you take the first test to assess yourself make a note of what kind of problems you are good at and which ones you got wrong. If you are weak in geometry questions then you should spend more time reviewing geometry problems.

The next section will focus on how to study for your weaker section. It could be either quantitative or verbal. Depending on the major you want to study in you should focus more on the section whose scores are important to you during the admission process. For engineering students quantitative scores are given more importance whereas language majors would do well to perform well in the verbal section. Concentrate more on the section that is given weightage for admissions to your particular course..