Hi,
I just took one of the Official GMAT Practice tests and answered the AWA section (for the first time). Below is the question:
AWA Question:
The following appeared as part of an article in the business section of a local newspaper:
“Motorcycle X has been manufactured in the United States for more than 70 years. Although one foreign company has copied the motorcycle and is selling it for less, the company has failed to attract motorcycle X customers—some say because its product lacks the exceptionally loud noise made by motorcycle X. But there must be some other explanation. After all, foreign cars tend to be quieter than similar American-made cars, but they sell at least as well. Also, television advertisements for motorcycle X highlight its durability and sleek lines, not its noisiness, and the ads typically have voice-overs or rock music rather than engine-roar on the sound track.”
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 counter examples 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 ESSAY:
"The argument, seeking to find an alternate reasoning for the popularity of Motorcycle X, as compared to the version made by one foreign company, misses out on some critical points to justify its stand. This, in turn, makes the argument quite vulnerable to criticism. The evidence presented in support are based solely on the author's own views and seem quite speculative.
Firstly, the author mentions foreign cars and how their quieter designs make them just as popular as American cars. But this could be like comparing apples to oranges. It could be possible that the customers for Motorcycle X (or motorcycles in general) are looking for an exceptionally noisy model to draw attention to their ownership of the prized possession. Their criteria while selecting cars could be different and they could prefer quieter designs.
Further, the arguement assumes that the customer base for foreign cars and for motorcycles are the same. It could be possible that motorcyles appeal to a younger crowd who prefer noisy vehicles while cars are for the more aged and experienced. This could also be why Motorcycle X uses rock music to appeal to this younger demographic.
The author mentions "durability and sleek lines" as one of the key features of Motorcycle X. However, there is no comparison provided with those of the foreign model. It is likely, that since the foreign company copied the design, their model could be just as sleek and durable. The lower selling price could be due to lower profit margins or different cost of manufacturing in the foreign country.
Despite the above, the arguement has some credibility, However, it is seriously lacking in its presentation of evidence. If the author could show, say via a Customer survey, what specific features of Motorcyle X the customers prefer, rather than rely simply on speculation, the arguement could be made much stronger. It could be that customers prefer brand image over lower price when it comes to choosing motorcycles. Surely people would prefer to buy the original rather than a cheaper knock-off, due to the prestige associated with it.
Overall, the author needs to better justify his/her arguement with more concrete evidence and facts, rather than base it entirely on generalizations and his/her own observations."
I would love it if one AWA pandit can evaluate this for and give me an idea of the general score I could expect. I only prepped for AWA for 2 hours and this was my first attempt. Please let me know how i did it and if I need to put in more time on AWA prep.
Taking my exam in 3 days, so hopefully your answer in NO!
Thanks.
Sriparna