Tips and Strategies for the Official Test

Now you are ready to practice this task. Take a few minutes to go over the tips and strategies on the next few pages, and then go for it. In the practice section of this chapter, there are ten practice prompts for you to analyze and critique. Feel free to flip back to this lesson at any time. Remember, on the official exam, you will have just 30 minutes to complete this task. When you are practicing, take as long as you need on the first few practice essays you write. Once you feel comfortable, try to complete the task in the time you will be allotted on the official exam. If you practice sensibly, using the formula presented here, you will be well prepared to succeed on the official exam. 

The following will serve as an easy reference as you complete the practice prompts on the subsequent pages and as you continue to prepare for the Analytical Writing section of the GRE General Test. The bulleted points indicate what to remember as you complete both the Issue and the Argument tasks. 

The Issue task is 45 minutes and the Argument task is 30 minutes. Be sure to budget your time on the official exam. A good general rule is to divide your time on the essay test accordingly  

PERCENT OF YOUR TIME ISSUE ESSAY ARGUMENT ESSAY 

Remember, there is no right answer to the Issue essay. You are required to present and support a position. Your abilities to think critically and support a position effectively in writing are being examined—you are not being judged on the point of view you present. 

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You already know a bit about the kinds of questions on the GRE. Subsequent sections of this book will discuss these questions in detail and offer study tips and strategies for answering them correctly. Answers to the other questions come from the official GRE Registration Bulletin and from the testing centers listed in the Bulletin. Seek out that information right away—you will need it as you set up your study plan. 

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