Right amount of effort on AWA

I just got my official GMAT score and managed to get a 6.0 in AWA. This is my view on it:

- Make sure you practice AWA as part of your practice tests for the weeks leading up to you. It will help you build your mental stamina.
- Having said that, I found AWA can be used as a positive on test day. It eases you in after your AWA you will be comfortable in the test environment, your computer, your surroundings etc.
- I was a little worried about it but anyone who has written an essay in college can easily get a 6. Just follow the AWA guide posted on this forum.

In terms of significance, yes it has little to no bearing if your application is solid. I read that adcoms only look at it in rare cases. Nevertheless, until the GMAT is revamped we have to live with it and it's really not that hard so just read the guide and follow it and you should be fine.

Too much effort on AWA may consume lots of mental energy. I think we should target about 5 in AWA instead of 6.

I think AWA needs no much effort if your grammar is sound, your thought pattern is sequential and you can translate it into black and white with little effort.

But the argument part of AWA may require some effort and I combined the techniques in CR with this one. The strategy paid off. You'd need to have the thought process of the kids of flaws GMAT can place in its argument essays and that should see you through.

I barely wrote a couple of essays on the d-day, even as I was busy in a function at home.

See my port in the GMAT experience folder, if you know what exactly transpired with me on AWA.

Regards
Rahul