Did a second attempt at AWA, 4 days until test day. This time I managed the time a bit better so I could spend time re-reading the text. I think my grammar is better in this one, but content-wise maybe a bit worse. If anyone has time to read and comment I am again super grateful. Cheers!
My total scores on GMAT practice tests were:
490 (before any studying)
620 (~1 week ago)
630 (few days ago)
620 (today)
Do you guys think AWA is on about the same level?
Quote:
“To reverse the deterioration of the postal service, the government should raise the price of postage stamps. This solution will no doubt prove effective, since the price increase will generate larger revenues and will also reduce the volume of mail, thereby eliminating the strain on the existing system and contributing to improved morale.”
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion, be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
My answer:
"The author claims that in order to improve the postal service the price of postage stamps should be increased. The reasoning is that a higher price will lead to larger revenues and also a lower quantity of mail, which in turn will improve the morale. The argument relies on weak premises, which make the conclusion unconvincing.
First, the suggestion of increasing the price of postage stamps in order to improve postal service is not necessarily going to be effective. What if the prices already are high? If the prices are increased, thus decreasing the volume of mail, the post companies might experience a loss in profit. For example, this could lead to the employers cutting wages for the employees or even firing some of them. This could potentially lead to an opposite effect on the morale than what the author assumed. The lower morale could therefore possibly lead to the post officers providing even worse service for the customers.
Second, the author seems to assume that the problem of the postal service lies on the financial performance of the post companies. There is no evidence at all proving that is the case. What if the bad postal service stems from other factors, such as rough work environment or bad management? If that is the case, a change in financial performance will not necessarily improve the situation. A better solution in that case would have been to focus on fixing those problems.
Finally, the conclusion about improved postal service is based assumptions about the reasons for bad postal service for which there are no clear evidence. To make it more convincing, the author could have provided information of the current prices of postage stamps or a survey of the employed post officers opinion about their work environment. Without further information about the causes of the bad postal service, no strong conclusion can be drawn and the argument remains unconvincing."
close
03 Jan 2017, 05:27
