As requirements in the business and employment world change, so do university courses and methods of teaching, and the revised GRE General Test reflects these changes. The test is still divided into three parts but some questions have been added and the test is more user-friendly. For help on the Quantitative Reasoning section look here. Find advice on the Verbal Reasoning section here
Analytical Writing Section
In this section you will be required to Analyze an Issue, a task that is given 30 minutes. You will also be asked to Analyze an Argument, and given 30 minutes for this task. As part of the revised test you will be able to edit or change your answer before the time limit has elapsed. In your writing you will need to use standard English and clearly explain complex ideas, sustaining a coherent discussion with relevant examples where appropriate.
As an aid to how to approach this spend a minute or two writing sentences that give a summary of your analysis and then use these sentences to begin paragraphs. Below is an example of an ‘Issue’ task, given on the GRE website
Example of Issue and Response Cues
"As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate."
So, your summary answer, which forms the outline for your longer response, could be:
People rely more on technology to solve problems but at the same time they discover more complex problems to solve.
The technology itself requires problem solving to create and to maintain and update.
While technology may solve problems more easily, like using a calculator instead of a slide rule, it also provides more information about subjects like outer space and the human brain.
In some cases problem solving technology can make problems more complex, like cars having computers instead of simple mechanical parts.
For each of these sentences you can then elaborate upon the reasoning in the sentence and if you think of any other aspects, add another sentence. Working in this way will make you focus on your answer, rather than thinking out an answer and forgetting one aspect while you are writing another.
Leave Time for Revision
Because you can now edit your answer, once you have been writing for 25 minutes, take the time to read your entire answer to yourself and perhaps insert additional material to tie paragraphs together and make the complete response coherent. This revision time will also allow you to check for grammar and spelling errors. It is better to turn in a shorter, concise and correct answer than a long rambling one full of errors.
Practice Quick Responses
The GRE website has several examples of issues that you can use to practice the technique of rapid response sentences and then infilling with detail. Run through a few on paper or a word processor, and then by writing down the main sentences and speaking the infill. Practice makes it easier, improves your confidence and helps you to understand the process.
The same method can be applied to the Argument section of the Analytical Writing section of the test. Practice both and you will go into the test center with confidence.
Sally Anne Lewis - Sally has master's degrees in science and journalism, is fascinated to a degree in most things. Always something to learn.
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