GRE General Test Analytical Writing Syllabus

What must you do when the instructions say to "consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true"?

Explicitly discuss circumstances or conditions under which the statement is true AND circumstances under which it is not—addressing both sides is required by the instructions, not optional.

Is there a "correct" side to take on a GRE Issue prompt?

No. Raters score the quality of your reasoning, support, organization, and language—not which position you take. Agreeing, disagreeing, or taking a qualified middle position can all earn a 6.

What is the recommended strategy for choosing which side of an Issue prompt to argue under time pressure?

Choose the side you can support with the most and strongest specific examples—not necessarily your personal belief—since the essay is judged on support and reasoning, not sincerity.

What categories of examples can support a GRE Issue essay?

History, current events, literature, science and technology, business, and (used sparingly) personal experience or observation. Drawing from varied domains signals breadth.

How many examples should a GRE Issue essay typically use, and how should each be handled?

Two to three well-developed examples, each explained in detail and explicitly connected back to the thesis. A few deep examples beat many shallow, undeveloped ones.

Why are specific examples more effective than generic or hypothetical ones in a GRE essay?

Specific, concrete examples (named people, events, studies) are more persuasive and demonstrate development, while vague generalities like "many people believe..." or invented hypotheticals weaken credibility and depth.

What is the standard paragraph structure for a high-scoring GRE Issue essay?

Four to six paragraphs: an introduction ending in a thesis; two or three body paragraphs, each developing one point with an example; often a counterargument/concession paragraph; and a conclusion.

What is the purpose of a counterargument (concession) paragraph in a GRE Issue essay?

To acknowledge the strongest opposing view and then rebut it or show its limits. This demonstrates awareness of the issue's complexity, directly satisfies many prompt instructions, and strengthens rather than weakens your position.

What three elements should the introduction of a GRE Issue essay contain?

(1) Context: restate the issue in your own words; (2) acknowledgment of the issue's complexity or the opposing view; (3) a thesis statement declaring your position.

What is a thesis statement, where does it usually appear, and what makes it strong?

A one-sentence declaration of your position on the issue, conventionally the last sentence of the introduction. A strong thesis is specific, arguable, and previews the main reasons (a roadmap) that the body paragraphs will develop.

What is a topic sentence and what role does it play in a body paragraph?

The first sentence of a body paragraph, stating the single main point that paragraph will develop. Each topic sentence should directly support the thesis, so a rater can follow the argument by reading topic sentences alone.

What does the PEEL formula for body paragraphs stand for?

Point (topic sentence stating the claim), Evidence (a specific example), Explanation (analysis of how the evidence proves the point), Link (tie back to the thesis).

What is the most common body-paragraph failure in GRE essays?

Dropping in an example without analysis. Evidence never speaks for itself: after each example you must explain how it supports your claim and connects to your thesis.

Name the main categories of logical transitions with examples of each.

Additive: moreover, furthermore, in addition. Contrast: however, nevertheless, conversely. Cause-effect: therefore, consequently, thus. Illustration: for instance, for example. Concession: admittedly, granted, to be sure.

What technique creates smooth flow between paragraphs in an essay?

A transitional sentence (or opening phrase) that briefly references the previous paragraph's idea while introducing the new one—e.g., "While economic incentives explain part of the trend, cultural factors matter even more."

What should the conclusion of a GRE Issue essay do—and NOT do?

It should restate the thesis in fresh words, synthesize the main points, and optionally offer a broader implication. It should NOT introduce new evidence or new arguments.

What is sentence variety and why does it matter for the GRE essay score?

Mixing simple, compound, and complex sentences and varying sentence openings and lengths. The rubric's top scores explicitly require "sentence variety" as part of superior facility with language; monotonous structure reads as weak control.

When should you prefer active voice over passive voice in a GRE essay?

Prefer active voice ("The policy reduced crime") for clarity, directness, and concision. Reserve passive voice for when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

What is a comma splice, and what are the ways to fix it?

Joining two independent clauses with only a comma ("Technology advances, society must adapt"). Fix it with a period, a semicolon, a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (and, but, so), or by subordinating one clause ("Because technology advances, ...").

What is parallelism (parallel structure) in writing?

Expressing items in a series or comparison in the same grammatical form: "reading, writing, and revising" — not "reading, writing, and to revise." Faulty parallelism is a common usage error that raters and e-rater penalize.

What kinds of diction should be avoided in a GRE essay?

Slang and colloquialisms, clichés, contractions (don't, can't), and vague words like "thing," "stuff," "good," or "bad." Use precise, formal vocabulary—without forcing obscure words you cannot control.

Is first person acceptable in a GRE Issue essay, and what tone should you maintain?

Yes—first person is acceptable, especially for stating your position ("I contend that..."), if used sparingly. Avoid addressing the reader as "you," and maintain a formal, confident academic tone throughout.

What is a dangling modifier? Give an example and its fix.

An introductory modifier whose intended subject is missing from the sentence: "Having studied the data, the conclusion was clear." Fix by supplying the actor: "Having studied the data, the researchers reached a clear conclusion."

What is a vague pronoun reference, and why is it a problem?

Using a pronoun (this, it, they) with no clear antecedent—e.g., "The city cut funding, which angered teachers; this shows..." where "this" is ambiguous. It muddies logic; fix by naming the referent: "this cut shows..."

Give examples of wordy phrases to replace for concision in a GRE essay.

"Due to the fact that" → "because"; "in order to" → "to"; "at this point in time" → "now"; "has the ability to" → "can." Cutting redundancy sharpens clarity, a rubric criterion.

What is a recommended time allocation for the 30-minute GRE Issue essay?

About 4–5 minutes to brainstorm and outline, 20–22 minutes to write, and 3–4 minutes to proofread. Substantive, well-developed essays (often roughly 500–600 words) tend to earn higher scores than very short ones.

What is an efficient brainstorming method for a GRE Issue prompt?

Make a quick T-chart listing points and examples for BOTH sides of the issue, then choose the side (or qualified stance) with the strongest support—brainstorming both sides also supplies your counterargument paragraph.

What components should a quick GRE essay outline contain?

Your thesis, two or three supporting points each paired with a specific example, the main counterargument plus your rebuttal, and a one-line conclusion idea. A few keywords per item is enough.

How should a memorized essay template be used on test day?

As a flexible skeleton—pre-planned paragraph roles and stock transitional phrasing (e.g., "Admittedly, critics contend that...; however,...")—adapted to the specific prompt. Rigid, generic boilerplate that ignores the prompt's instructions lowers the score.

What should you prioritize during the final proofreading minutes of the GRE essay?

Errors that obscure meaning first: missing words, sentence fragments and run-ons, subject-verb agreement, and garbled sentences—then spelling and typos. Remember there is no spell check, and minor errors alone won't prevent a top score, but errors that block comprehension will.