Admissions Practice Questions

GRE Analytical Writing Practice Questions

GRE Analytical Writing Assessment — Get real GRE analytical writing practice with Issue essay prompts covering planning, thesis-building, evidence selection, organization, and revision. Each GRE issue essay example below breaks down which approach scores well and why.

Total Questions

30 minutes

Time Limit

Scored 0-6 (half-point increments)

Passing Score

~$220 (included in GRE registration)

Registration Fee

Free Sample Questions

Here are 5 free sample questions from our full bank of 490+ GRE Analytical Writingpractice questions. Try them out below — click "Show Answer" to reveal the correct response and explanation.

Issue Task Prompt (Planning Notes Focus): 'Society should prioritize the collective good over individual freedoms whenever the two conflict.' Write a response discussing the extent to which you agree or disagree, and explain your reasoning. Before drafting, which planning approach sets you up for the strongest essay?

ASpend most of your 30 minutes writing without an outline, trusting that ideas will connect as you go

BBrainstorm 3-4 concrete examples first (public health policy, free speech cases, workplace rules), then pick a qualified stance and sketch a quick outline before writing

CList every possible example you can think of, then decide on a thesis after the essay is mostly written

DMemorize a generic essay template in advance and plug this prompt's keywords into it

Issue Task Prompt (Thesis Example Focus): 'Universities should require students to take courses only within their chosen major, eliminating general education requirements.' Which thesis statement demonstrates the kind of nuanced position that scores well on the GRE analytical writing section?

A'Universities should absolutely eliminate all general education requirements because they waste students' time.'

B'General education requirements are good and should never be changed.'

C'While general education courses can distract from a major's core skills, eliminating them entirely would deprive students of the interdisciplinary thinking employers increasingly value -- so requirements should be reduced, not removed.'

D'This is a difficult question with valid points on both sides.'

Issue Task Prompt (Evidence Selection Focus): 'Government funding for the arts is a wasteful use of public resources.' You have 30 minutes and need to argue against this statement. Which set of evidence would most strengthen your essay?

AA single, vague claim that 'art makes people happy' repeated in different words throughout the essay

BSpecific, varied support: a concrete economic example (arts districts driving local tourism revenue), a social example (community arts programs reducing youth crime rates), and a counterargument you address directly (acknowledging budget constraints but showing return on investment)

CPersonal anecdotes only, describing your own enjoyment of museums and concerts

DA long list of art forms (painting, music, theater, dance, sculpture) without explaining why any of them justify public funding

Issue Task Prompt (Organization Focus): 'The most effective way to reduce crime is to address its root economic causes rather than increase policing.' Which structural approach organizes a 30-minute response most effectively?

AIntroduction stating a qualified position, two or three body paragraphs each built around one distinct reason with its own example, a paragraph acknowledging the strongest counterargument, and a brief conclusion

BOne long paragraph covering the introduction, all supporting points, and the conclusion together to save time

CA series of short, disconnected paragraphs, each just one or two sentences, with no clear paragraph-to-paragraph logic

DBody paragraphs ordered randomly, with the strongest point buried in the middle and the weakest point placed first

Issue Task Prompt (Revision Guidance Focus): You've written a full Issue essay draft with five minutes remaining before time runs out. Which revision strategy makes the best use of that time?

ARewrite the introduction paragraph from scratch to sound more polished

BAdd two more examples to the body paragraphs, even if it means leaving no time to check anything else

CQuickly reread for clarity, fix obvious grammar or word-choice errors, make sure transitions between paragraphs are present, and confirm the conclusion restates your position -- rather than adding new content

DLeave the essay exactly as drafted and use the time to plan how you'd approach the next section

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About the GRE Analytical Writing

Format & Structure

Total Questions: 1
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Format: Typed essay response, computer-based

Scoring & Cost

Passing Score: Scored 0-6 (half-point increments)
Registration Fee: ~$220 (included in GRE registration)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GRE Analytical Writing section?

The GRE Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) is the essay portion of the GRE, and it's honestly a bit different from the multiple-choice sections most people picture. You get one Issue Task -- a broad statement on a topic, and you write a typed essay arguing your position within 30 minutes. Grad programs use it to gauge how clearly you can develop and support an argument, not just recall facts.

How is the GRE essay scored?

Each essay gets a score from 0 to 6, in half-point increments, so you'll see scores like 3.5 or 4.5 show up fairly often. Two readers score it independently (one is sometimes an e-rater algorithm), and if their scores are close, the scores get averaged. There's no pass or fail line -- admissions committees weigh the score holistically alongside the rest of your application.

How long is the GRE analytical writing section?

You get exactly 30 minutes for the Issue Task. That's it -- one task, one timer, no breaks in between. It sounds tight, but most test-takers find that a few minutes of planning followed by focused writing fits comfortably within the window once they've practiced the pacing a couple of times.

What makes a good GRE issue essay?

Strong GRE issue essay examples usually share a few traits: a clear, somewhat nuanced thesis (not just a flat yes-or-no), specific supporting examples instead of vague generalities, logical paragraph structure, and at least a nod to the counterargument. Graders aren't looking for a 'correct' opinion -- they're evaluating how well you build and support whatever position you take.

Do I need to know facts about the essay topic beforehand?

Not really. GRE AWA practice questions are written broadly enough that you don't need specialized outside knowledge -- topics touch on things like education, government, technology, and society in general terms. What matters more is your ability to reason through the prompt and support your points with examples you can generate on the spot, whether from current events, history, or your own field.

How should I practice for the GRE analytical writing section?

Timed practice matters more here than almost anywhere else on the GRE. Sit down with a random Issue prompt, give yourself the full 30 minutes, and write start to finish without stopping to edit mid-draft. Afterward, compare your structure and evidence against strong sample responses. Repeating that cycle a handful of times does more for your score than reading about essay theory ever will.

Does the GRE analytical writing score matter for admissions?

It depends on the program, honestly. Some graduate programs, especially in writing-heavy fields, weigh the AWA score fairly seriously. Others glance at it mostly to flag red flags rather than to rank candidates. If you're unsure, check with the specific programs you're applying to -- but treating it as an afterthought is usually a mistake either way.

What's a competitive score on the GRE analytical writing section?

A 4.0 is roughly average across test-takers, while scores of 4.5 to 5.0 are generally considered solid for most graduate programs. Highly competitive programs, or fields where writing is central to the work, sometimes expect closer to 5.0 or higher. Check the specific benchmarks your target programs publish, since expectations vary quite a bit by discipline.

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