Your GRE score report will include just one Analytical Writing score (on a 0-6 scale) for both essays: "Analyze an Issue" and "Analyze an Argument." An Analytical Writing score averages the final ratings for the two essays. [How GRE essays are evaluated and scored]

This page provides two "scorecards" based on the official evaluation criteria, along with a formula intended to help you score your practice essays as objectively as possible. Keep in mind that although GRE graders apply the same evaluation criteria as the ones listed here, they use a more holistic than formulaic method for determining GRE essay scores.

A Formula for Scoring your GRE Practice Essays

To evaluate and score your GRE practice essays, follow these steps (notice that content and organization are the most important criteria):

1. For each of four evaluation criteria (listed further down this page), rate the essay on a scale of 0-6 as follows:

   6 — outstanding
   5 — very good
   4 — good
   3 — adequate
   2 — less than adequate
   1 — poor
   0 — no substantive response
   

2. Calculate a rating average based on criteria 1 and 2 (content and organization).

3. Calculate a rating average based on criteria 3 and 4 (language and grammar/mechanics)

4. If your step-3 average differs from your step-2 average by at least one point, raise or lower your step-2 average accordingly (either up or down) by one-half point. The result is your score for the essay.

Your final Analytical Writing score would be the average of your Issue and Argument scores — rounded up to the nearest half point.

Evaluation Criteria for the GRE Issue Essay

1. Content: Did you tailor your response to the specific directive? How persuasively did you develop and argue for a position on the issue, without digressing from the issue? Did you provide sound reasons and incisive examples in support of your position?

2. Organization: Did you present your ideas in an organized manner, so that another person could easily follow your train of thought from one idea to the next? Did you make your position clear at the outset (to help the reader anticipate the flow of your essay), then recapitulate at the end (to help the reader assimilate your ideas)?

3. Language: Did you use English words properly in your essay? Did you demonstrate a strong vocabulary, without overusing obscure words merely to impress the reader?

4. Grammar and mechanics: Are your sentences grammatically correct? Do your sentences clearly convey your ideas, without undue awkwardness or ambiguity?

Evaluation Criteria for the GRE Argument Essay

1. Content: Did you tailor your response to the specific directive? Did you show that you followed the argument's line of reasoning? In terms of your specific directive, did you identify and address all of the argument's problems rather than dwell on one point? Did you provide incisive reasons and examples to support each of your main points?

2. Organization: Did you present your critique of the argument in an organized manner, so that another person could easily follow your train of thought from one idea to the next?

3. Language: Did you use English words properly in your essay? Did you demonstrate a strong vocabulary, without overusing obscure words merely to impress the reader?

4. Grammar and mechanics: Are your sentences grammatically correct? Do your sentences clearly convey your ideas, without undue awkwardness or ambiguity?