The GRE Writing Assessment was introduced in October 1999. Offered independently of the GRE General and Subject Tests, it substantially expands the range of skills assessed by those tests.

Your score on the Writing Assessment can

Ü  Indicate your ability to make a successful transition to graduate level work.

Ü Highlight academic strength that are not captured by other tests or in your personal statement or writing samples.

Ü Contribute meaningful information that helps distinguish you from other candidates who present otherwise similar credentials.

Note: The GRE Writing Assessment is offered on computer and is available year-round at all ETS-authorised computer-based testing (CBT) centres worldwide.

Why was this assessment developed?

This Writing Assessment was developed in response to interest expressed by the graduate community for a performance-based assessment of critical reasoning and analytical writing.

What is the assessment like?

The assessment consists of 2 analytical writing tasks: a 45-minute "Present Your Perspective on an Issue" task and a 30-minute "Analyse an Argument" task. The "Issue task states an opinion on an issue of general interest and asks you to address the issue from any perspective (s) you wish, providing relevant reasons and examples to explain and support your views. The "Argument" task presents a different challenge: it requires you to critique an argument by discussing how well reasoned you find it. You will need to consider the logical soundness of the argument rather than agree or disagree with the position it presents.

The 2 tasks are complementary in that one requires you to construct your own argument about an issue, whereas the other requires you to critique someone else's argument by assessing its claims and evaluating the evidence it provides.

What skills does it measure?

The GRE Writing Assessment gives you the opportunity to display your critical thinking and analytical writing skills. It assesses your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, analyse an argument, and sustain a focused and coherent discussion. It is not a test of specific content knowledge, and there is no single best way to respond. For these reasons, and because you will be developing your own well-reasoned responses rather than selecting answers from a multiple-choice list, the assessment provides very different information about your abilities than that provided by the GRE General Test.

Do I have a choice of topics?

For the Issue task, you will be able to choose 1 of 2 essay topics randomly selected by computer from the pool of topics. The Argument task does not offer a choice of topics; the computer will present you with a single topic randomly selected by computer from the pool.

Are there test-taking strategies for the Issue task?

Yes. The issue task gives you considerable latitude in the way you respond to the position that each topic presents on a given issue. Try asking yourself these questions as you review the published list of Issue topics, and practice writing essays on several of the topics within the 45-minute time limit.

Ü What does the statement mean? What does it imply?

Ü Do I agree with all or with any part of the statement? Why or why not?

Ü Is the statement valid only in certain circumstances?

Ü Do I need to explain how I interpret certain terms or concepts used in the statement?

Ü If I take a certain position on the issue, what reasons support my position?

Ü What examples - either hypothetical or drawn from my readings or direct experiences - could I use to illustrate those reasons and advance my point of view? Which examples are most compelling?

Ü Can I address the opposing point of view in my essay and still justify my position?

Are there test-taking strategies for the Argument task?

Yes. Because the Argument task is constrained by the line of reasoning in the argument presented to you, be sure to read and analyse the argument carefully. Try asking yourself these questions as you review the list of published Argument topics and practice writing essays on several of the topics within the 30-minute time limit.

Ü What claims, conclusions, and underlying assumptions does the argument make?

Ü What alternative explanations and counter examples can I think of?

Ü What additional evidence might weaken or strengthen the claims?

Ü What changes in the argument would make the reasoning more sound?