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Among the four GRE scores appearing on your score report will be a single score for both of your GRE essays. This page provides a method for evaluating and scoring your GRE practice essays. Each 4-point list of evaluation criteria provided here is based on the testing service's official scoring criteria.
Calculating a GRE Analytical Writing Score
To evaluate and score your GRE practice essays, follow these steps (notice that content and organization are the most important criteria):- For each of the four numbered criteria (below), rate the essay on a scale of 0-6.
- Calculate a rating average based on criteria 1 and 2 (content and organization).
- Calculate a rating average based on criteria 3 and 4 (language and grammar/mechanics)
- 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-essay score and Argument-essay score — rounded up to the nearest half point.
NOTE: GRE readers evaluate and rate GRE essays "holistically" based on the same essential criteria as the ones provided below. In doing so, they place more weight on content and organization than on language and writing mechanics. However, they do not use a set formula for weighing the criteria.
Evaluation Criteria for the GRE Issue Essay
- Content: 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? Did you acknowledge and respond effectively to a position contrary to yours?
- 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)?
- 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?
- 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
- Content: Did you show that you followed the argument's line of reasoning? Did you identify the major problems with the argument, and use incisive reasons and examples to support each point of your critique? Did you indicate what additional sorts of evidence would be needed to strengthen the argument, and/or for you to better evaluate it?
- 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?
- 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?
- Grammar and mechanics: Are your sentences grammatically correct? Do your sentences clearly convey your ideas, without undue awkwardness or ambiguity?
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