GRE AWA Score Descriptors 

The ETS GRE AWA score is marked based on the quality of the essay and not errors. AWA in GRE means analytical writing assessment, and the candidate is marked on their ‘analytical writing and critical thinking abilities. The skills further include reasoning ability, ability to provide pieces of evidence, explain complex ideas, and communication skills. Apart from these, GRE analytical writing score also considers grammatical accuracy and spelling.  GRE analytical writing scores have been presented below in a table and further broken down for easy understanding:

GRE AWA Score 6 

ETS AWA GRE score 6 represents an aspirant’s approach in writing. Aspirants marked with a score of 6 portray cogent, well-articulated critique of the argument and conveys meaning skillfully. The score are marked based on the below mentioned criteria: 

• clearly identifies important features of the argument and analyzes them insightfully
• develops ideas cogently, organizes them logically and connects them with clear transitions
• effectively supports the main points of the critique
• demonstrates control of language, including appropriate word choice and sentence variety
• demonstrates facility with the conventions (i.e., grammar, usage and mechanics) of standard written English but may have minor errors

GRE AWA Score 5

An AWA score 5 in GRE represents a candidates approach to a thoughtful process. It recognises a candidates approach to writing answers that are well-developed critique of the argument. In addition, these GRE exam AWA answer represents a meaningful critique and argumentative aspects. Below mentioned are the aspects tbat are analysed in this GRE AWA band score: 

• clearly identifies important features of the argument and analyzes them in a generally perceptive way
• develops ideas clearly, organizes them logically and connects them with appropriate transitions
• sensibly supports the main points of the critique
• demonstrates control of language, including appropriate word choice and sentence variety
• demonstrates facility with the conventions of standard written English, but may have minor errors

GRE AWA Score 4

AWA 4 GRE score represents a critical argumentative approach and further a meaningful answer is presented. GRE AWA band 4 is remarked as GRE analytical writing good score. The answers in this category are marked based on:

• identifies and analyzes important features of the argument
• develops and organizes ideas satisfactorily, but may not connect them with transitions
• supports the main points of the critique
• demonstrates sufficient control of language to express ideas with reasonable clarity
• generally demonstrates control of the conventions of standard written English, but may have some errors

GRE AWA Score 3

AWA score 3 in GRE demonstrates the average competitive skills of the aspirants. The approach of aspirants to include even smaller critique of the argument and in conveying meaning however in abrupt manner. Aspirant falling under these categories are marked with GRE AWA 3 band. Below mentioned are the aspects that candidates scoring AWA score 3 in GRE portray:

• does not identify or analyze most of the important features of the argument, although some analysis of the argument is present
• mainly analyzes tangential or irrelevant matters, or reasons poorly
• is limited in the logical development and organization of ideas
• offers support of little relevance and value for points of the critique
• lacks clarity in expressing ideas
• contains occasional major errors or frequent minor errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that can interfere with meaning

GRE AWA Score 2

AWA score 2 in GRE represents that a candidates doesn’t have the required analytical skills to write an argumentative essay. The scores are poor as candidates scoring AWA score 2 in GRE represents the below mentioned flaws:

• does not present a critique based on logical analysis, but may instead present the writer's own views on the subject
• does not develop ideas or is disorganized and illogical
• provides little if any relevant or reasonable support
• has serious problems in the use of language and in sentence structure that frequently interfere with meaning
• contains serious errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that frequently obscure meaning

GRE AWA Score 1

Candidates that are credited with a score of 1 in ETS AWA GRE exam are full of fundamental deficiencies in analytical writing. AWA score 1 in GRE is credited to candidates falling under the below-mentioned criteria:

• provides little or no evidence of the ability to understand and analyze the argument
• provides little or no evidence of the ability to develop an organized response
• has severe problems in language and sentence structure that persistently interfere with meaning
• contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that result in incoherence