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GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment Flashcards
50 question-and-answer cards covering Analytical Writing Assessment as it is examined in GMAT. 24 of them are printed below, taken from across the deck — no signup, no paywall on the preview.
24 sample cards from the Analytical Writing Assessment deck
Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.
What is the assumption behind a prediction that a past result will repeat in the future?
It assumes conditions relevant to the past result (market, consumer behavior, competition, environment) will remain unchanged, which the argument fails to justify.
When an argument recommends a plan to achieve a goal, what key assumption should you attack?
That the plan will actually produce the intended result, that there are no unintended consequences, and that no better alternative or obstacle exists.
What is the role of examples and evidence in your AWA response?
To make each critique concrete: you supply hypothetical scenarios or counterexamples that show how an assumption could be false, thereby demonstrating the argument's vulnerability.
Give the general form of a strong critique sentence in an AWA body paragraph.
"The author assumes X, but if instead Y were true, then the conclusion would not follow because Z." This names the assumption, offers a counter-scenario, and explains the impact.
What kind of evidence would you say could "strengthen" a flawed AWA argument?
Data or facts that close the identified logical gap, such as a representative sample, ruled-out alternative causes, defined terms, or proof that conditions will persist.
Why is paraphrasing the argument (rather than copying it) recommended in the introduction?
It demonstrates comprehension of the argument's structure and shows the reader you have identified the conclusion and evidence in your own words.
What is the recommended number of distinct flaws to analyze in a 30-minute AWA essay?
Typically three well-developed flaws (one per body paragraph); two deeply analyzed flaws can also earn a high score, but a list of many shallow ones will not.
What writing qualities do AWA graders reward besides logical analysis?
Clear organization, logical transitions, varied and precise sentence structure, controlled grammar/mechanics, and a coherent, well-developed critique.
According to the AWA scoring guide, what characterizes a top-scoring (6) essay?
It cogently and insightfully identifies the argument's key features, develops ideas with strong logical support and clear organization, and demonstrates superior command of language with only minor errors.
What characterizes a mid-range (score 4) AWA essay?
It is "adequate": it identifies and analyzes main elements of the argument but with limited development, satisfactory organization, and some errors that do not seriously interfere with meaning.
What is the process for planning an AWA essay before writing?
(1) Read the prompt and find the conclusion. (2) List the evidence. (3) Brainstorm the unstated assumptions/flaws. (4) Select the 2-3 strongest. (5) Outline intro, body order, and conclusion. Spend roughly 3-5 minutes planning.
How should you allocate your 30 minutes on the AWA?
Roughly 3-5 minutes reading and planning, about 20-22 minutes writing, and 3-5 minutes proofreading/revising.
What is a "transition" and why does it matter in AWA writing?
A transition is a linking word/phrase (e.g., "first," "furthermore," "however," "consequently") that signals logical relationships between ideas, improving coherence and readability of the essay.
What is the difference between "analyzing" the argument and "agreeing/disagreeing" with it?
Analyzing means evaluating how well the evidence supports the conclusion (the logic); agreeing/disagreeing means taking a position on the topic itself, which the AWA task does not want.
When an AWA prompt cites an authority or expert to support its claim, what assumption can you question?
That the cited authority is unbiased, relevant, and qualified on this specific issue, and that expert opinion alone is sufficient evidence for the conclusion.
What is the "whole-to-part" (division) or "part-to-whole" (composition) flaw?
Assuming what is true of a group is true of each member (division), or what is true of members is true of the whole group (composition), without justification.
How do you handle a prompt that assumes two time periods or two groups are comparable?
Challenge the comparison: point out that differing circumstances, conditions, or populations may make the two periods/groups non-comparable, so conclusions drawn from the comparison are unsupported.
What is a concise definition of a "logical gap" you should look for in every AWA argument?
A logical gap is any place where the conclusion does not necessarily follow from the stated evidence because an unstated and unproven assumption is required to bridge them.
Why should you avoid a purely formulaic, template-only AWA essay?
Graders reward genuine, specific engagement with THAT argument's flaws; a generic template with no argument-specific analysis reads as hollow and caps your score.
What should you do in the final minutes of the AWA?
Proofread for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clarity; fix awkward sentences and ensure each paragraph clearly connects to your central claim that the argument is flawed.
How can you demonstrate depth when analyzing a single assumption?
Name the assumption, explain precisely why it is needed, give a concrete counter-scenario where it fails, and state how its failure undermines the conclusion, rather than just asserting it is an assumption.
What is the danger of attacking the premises (stated facts) rather than the assumptions?
The AWA treats stated premises as given/true; disputing them wastes time and misses the task, which is to expose gaps in reasoning between accepted premises and the conclusion.
What phrase should your thesis in the introduction generally convey?
That the argument is unconvincing/logically flawed as written because it relies on several unsupported assumptions, which you will now examine.
Give an example of framing a strengthening suggestion in your AWA conclusion.
"The argument would be far more compelling if the author provided a representative sample, ruled out alternative causes, and defined what 'success' means; absent this evidence, the conclusion remains unsubstantiated."
What this deck covers
The Analytical Writing Assessment deck follows the GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment syllabus — 1 chapters and 5 topics — so questions land on material that is genuinely examinable rather than trivia around it. That works out to roughly 50.0 cards per chapter.
Answers are written to be recallable, not just readable — averaging about 174 characters, which is long enough to carry the reasoning and short enough to say out loud.
A deck like this earns its keep on the second and third pass. Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then use the cards to find the specific facts that have not stuck.
Analytical Writing Assessment flashcards FAQ
How many Analytical Writing Assessment flashcards are in this GMAT deck?
50 cards. This page previews 24 of them, sampled evenly across the deck so you can judge the difficulty before installing anything.
Are these GMAT flashcards free?
Yes. The preview here is free to read with no signup, and the full 50-card deck is free inside the Examius app.
What do the Analytical Writing Assessment cards cover?
They follow the GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment syllabus — 1 chapters and 5 topics — so the questions track what is actually examinable.
How should I use these flashcards?
Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then drill the deck. Examius schedules each card with spaced repetition, so cards you keep missing come back sooner and ones you know drift further apart.