GMAT 750 and 2.5 AWA

Question

I took the gmat in a rush last week and scored a 750 (98%), q49 (86%), v42 (95%). I only took a couple of days to prepare and didn't think at all about the AWA part because I'd heard it didn't count that much.

So when I was taking the official gmat it was for the absolutely first time I looked at an AWA question and I didn't really get what kind of answer they were looking for. The results were a score of 2.5 or the bottom 4%!

Am I in big trouble here? With a 750 gmat I am aiming at the top business schools. I have yet to take the toefl so I can still try to master the writing part on that exam. You think a good score there could help me or am i doomed to take the gmat again?

Thanks for your help

mainhoon · Answer

great V score. I don't think schools look much at AWA, but I am not sure what the impact of a low AWA would be? More exp ppl chime in!

whiplash2411 · Answer

I've always thought of the AWA as a somewhat corroborating factor, making sure that you can really write as well as your essay says you can. But, I mean a 2.5 is a pretty low score. I am not sure if it's worth retaking or anything because of that.

siyer · Answer

I wouldn't retake. Not with a score of 750.

Financier · Answer

4.0 is a bording pass according to experienced people. They STRONGLY advised me to score AWA 4.0.

anaik100 · Answer

concentrating on ur application essays shd help u in overcoming ur AWA score

peggster · Answer

I'm applying to MAcc programs, not MBA, but several MAcc programs I've looked at do require a 4.0 minimum AWA score.

PTK · Answer

puppy,

How is it possible to score 95% on verbal and 4% on AWA? It is completly irreconciable.

Sorry for my scepticism; I am a former auditor.

srjaidev · Answer

My $0.02 is that you must make sure 2.5 is acceptable for the b-schools you are interested in. Like Whiplash2411 said, schools could check your AWAs and I think they can get hold of your essays too. Send them a mail or something, you don't want to lose out because of a poor AWA score. They could get suspicious of an outstanding essay because of the poor AWA score too.

rockzom · Answer

I think you could get a 3.0 on the AWA if 99% of your sentences were like this:

"Well, i mean, its like simlar to what the law is and junk, but its still very differnt, ya know? That's why I argue agianst it."

Just saying..

SoonHin · Answer

You need a 4.0 for business schools because anything less than a 4.0 shows you didn't write your essays.

If the program you're applying to has no essays - then you're fine.

This guy can absolutely get 2.5 and a 750 because he gamed it. Didn't treat the AWA seriously and probably just really did it quickly so he was fresh for the part that counted. I did the GMAT 3 times. In the first two times, I got an AWA of 5.5 and 600's score. I thought about gaming it too and ignoring the AWA the 3rd time I did it and jump straight to the actual GMAT. I didn't, but point is, for people who have done the GMAT once and got a high AWA, why not just skip it and go straight to the test? Then you can argue, well my actual AWA when I do it properly is 5.5. I just didn't bother the second or third time...

The counter argument from B-School is well, your 750 isn't really a 750 then because you didn't do thr AWA i.e. you didn't expend mental energy before hand. So it's unfair. That's why the GMAT order is screwd. They should make you do AWA last to prevent this type of gaming.

walker · Answer

I would retake. 2.5 AWA means adcom will not believe that you wrote the essays. If you got 750, don't see any problem just schedule the test in 30 days and get maybe 710 or 720 but with good AWA.

This is only thing you need to read before retake:
how-to-get-6-0-awa-my-guide-64327.html

shaselai · Answer

maybe he wrote just as bad essays since he got a 2.5? I mean either he's trolling (1st post ever) or he just really really bad in writing anything coherent since 2.5 you really need to suck to get it..... will bombing the gmat score be worth retaking again like if he gets a <700 with 3-4 awa?

srjaidev · Answer

Well he has to take it again right? I mean 2.5 is too low and the adcoms won't be happy!

shaselai · Answer

i think the key here is if he had help on the essays or someone wrote it for him. if he did it by himself then the 2.5 will be ok.

whiplash2411 · Answer

This thread has really outlived it's usefulness and clearly the OP hasn't returned to post again. So locked.

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