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14 Jul 2024, 19:49
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AWA is coming back - so silly!
This is a pretty dramatic reversal of the GMAT Focus getting rid of the 30-minute essay section but looks like AWA (Analytics Writing Assessment) is coming just 9 months since it has been removed. https://www.mba.com/exams/business-writing-assessment
It will not be a part of the GMAT but it will be a separate product/test priced at $30 and can be scheduled independently of the GMAT. No idea how many times you can retake it but we have a perfect easy solution for getting a 6.0 on AWA.
It is launching sometime in July 2024 and HBS is already requiring it if your test did not have an Essay component. So if you took GMAT Classic or GRE, you do not need to do this but you will be required to submit a separate AWA Essay score if you have taken GMAT Focus. This is not positive for GMAT Focus
Which Schools Require an Essay + GMAT Focus?
We should know exact list pretty soon. At this time we know that HBS requires it.
https://www.hbs.edu/mba/find-answers/Pages/default.aspx
Update: MIT Sloan joined the bandwagon too.
https://mitsloan.mit.edu/mba/admissions ... -questions
Why is the AWA Essay Re-introduced?
AWA has been the 5th wheel on the GMAT for years. Most programs have not cared about it. None published average AWA scores and so my theory is that it was an easy target to cut in order to shorten the GMAT and make it more attractive….
But then AI and ChatGPT happened. That has suddenly caught schools off guard and there is not much they can do when they get essays. So now they are requiring the writing sample once again and clearly AWA is a lot more important now that anyone can use Chat GPT to sound like Shakespear. Now if you have a low score and stellar essays, your essays will look suspect…. so do actually take some effort and time to prepare to make sure you’re writing is actually impactful and meaningful.
Links
https://www.mba.com/exams/business-writing-assessment
https://www.hbs.edu/mba/find-answers/Pages/default.aspx
https://gmatclub.com/forum/how-to-get-6 ... 64327.html
This is a pretty dramatic reversal of the GMAT Focus getting rid of the 30-minute essay section but looks like AWA (Analytics Writing Assessment) is coming just 9 months since it has been removed. https://www.mba.com/exams/business-writing-assessment
It will not be a part of the GMAT but it will be a separate product/test priced at $30 and can be scheduled independently of the GMAT. No idea how many times you can retake it but we have a perfect easy solution for getting a 6.0 on AWA.
It is launching sometime in July 2024 and HBS is already requiring it if your test did not have an Essay component. So if you took GMAT Classic or GRE, you do not need to do this but you will be required to submit a separate AWA Essay score if you have taken GMAT Focus. This is not positive for GMAT Focus
Which Schools Require an Essay + GMAT Focus?
We should know exact list pretty soon. At this time we know that HBS requires it.
https://www.hbs.edu/mba/find-answers/Pages/default.aspx
Update: MIT Sloan joined the bandwagon too.
https://mitsloan.mit.edu/mba/admissions ... -questions
Why is the AWA Essay Re-introduced?
AWA has been the 5th wheel on the GMAT for years. Most programs have not cared about it. None published average AWA scores and so my theory is that it was an easy target to cut in order to shorten the GMAT and make it more attractive….
But then AI and ChatGPT happened. That has suddenly caught schools off guard and there is not much they can do when they get essays. So now they are requiring the writing sample once again and clearly AWA is a lot more important now that anyone can use Chat GPT to sound like Shakespear. Now if you have a low score and stellar essays, your essays will look suspect…. so do actually take some effort and time to prepare to make sure you’re writing is actually impactful and meaningful.
Links
https://www.mba.com/exams/business-writing-assessment
https://www.hbs.edu/mba/find-answers/Pages/default.aspx
https://gmatclub.com/forum/how-to-get-6 ... 64327.html
Aryaa03
Joined: 12 Jun 2023
Last visit: 23 Jul 2025
Posts: 210
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB '27 (A) IIM Calcutta '26 (A) IIMA '26 (D)
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q86 V81 DI78 
14 Jul 2024, 20:12
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bb Minting money has become the norm these days. I don't know if it's good or bad for the Focus; it is bad for the pocket.
Posted from my mobile device
Posted from my mobile device
14 Jul 2024, 20:17
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Aryaa03
I don’t know that it is a significant financial implication…. It is $30. Which is a cost of one more score report. They could have raised the gmat price… But it’s more of an inconvenience and it makes the GMAT focus product a feel incomplete.
i feel it’s a pretty big marketing disadvantage so GMAT Focus will probably get the essay included back in the test sometime soon.
