GMAT AWA Template To Score 6.0. My scores - GMAT 1: 6.0 ;GMAT 2: 6.0

Hi,

This post is an attempt to give back to the forum that has helped me a lot to get a good GMAT score. (Self-study, no course).

I am 28 years old Indian male, my English(both written and spoken) is OK, nothing to write home about, but I do not make glaring grammatical mistakes and can think in English.

GMAT SCORES:

GMAT 2 -> 04-08-16 :: 730, V 40, Q 49, AWA 6.0, IR 6
GMAT 1 -> 25-06-16 :: 670, V 31, Q 49, AWA 6.0, IR 4

For AWA preparation, I started with chineseburned template : https://gmatclub.com/forum/how-to-get-6-0-awa-my-guide-64327.html

Before GMAT- Prep exam 1, I had gone through the template thoroughly, and though not expecting to do anything spectacular, I was confident that I would be able to write at least four paragraphs using the template.

UNFORTUNATELY, what came next was a huge surprise: I was not even able to complete two paragraphs. I spent the first 15 mins to decide what my first two sentences were going to be.

Reason:

Chineseburned in his template makes a critical assumption that "some of us are even good enough to utilize his template and write a decent argument." I am not, his template gives the user too many options, too many choices to select from and under exam pressure if writing an argument does not come naturally to someone, then the person gets tensed and muddles up the whole thing.

Hence, I decided to work on my template: minimizing the no. of choices I had, deciding on a set structure even at paragraph level and understanding what is required/ what can be skipped in a GMAT argument.

References :
1. Chineseburned's template - link given above.
2. Sample 6.0 essay provided in O.S.

Now: At this point, if you think that this post is going to be useful then, please follow the following instructions, I will explain how to make the best use of the template.
<Note: By author's argument I mean the argument given in the question>

1. Download both the attachments and read document 1 thoroughly: "AWA temp," do not read the other document for now.

2. As you would have seen from step 1, the last paragraph has no fill in the blanks, there is no need to summarize again what you have written. You can see this even in the 6.0 argument example given in the official guide.

3. I always wrote the 4th para next, why? It is the easiest to write. There is a critique in all of us and whenever we see the author's argument in AWA immediately few questions will pop into our head. GREAT!!! Just write those two or three questions in this paragraph. Lines 1,2 and the last line in para four are fixed; those are decent English sentences containing good vocabulary, some proverbs and transition words. For example: in my first GMAT exam, the AWA argument's last sentence was about moving investments from A to B, so I simply asked: what kind of investment is the author asking us to make? Long term, medium term or short term? What should be the tenure? Should the investor's portfolio remain diversified or should the whole investment be moved from A to B. Simple!! The author did not mention about all of these questions in his or her argument so I had a right to ask and this act was enough to complete the 4th para.

4. Next, I would go on to write para 2, IMO the most important paragraph. You have to give a definitive example of a scenario in which contradictory results would alter the author's argument completely. For example, if the author's argument is based on a survey, then you can attack the demography of the people who were surveyed. Give one example of those group of people whose involvement in the survey would be strengthened the argument and second example of those type of individuals whose participation in the survey would weaken the argument. Another example is when the causal relationship between two events A and B is not clearly defined by the author's argument, in this case, you can clearly write about two scenarios i.e. A causes B or B causes A.
This para is the most critical paragraph, if you decide to use this para in your template, then start to practice this line of thought whenever you see a GMAT argument. Believe me, once you get the hang of it, this paragraph will quickly contribute up to 150 words and substantive material to your argument.

5. Now, 3rd para is optional. If you are running out of time, then skip it. But it is my request to you not to get into this position, please practice and improve your speed in completing paragraphs 2,4 and 5. Paragraphs 4 and five should take you maximum 5 to 6 minutes(do not think too much about what questions you are asking in para 4, even if the questions are remotely relevant then you have a right to ask). Para 2 should take you 10 to 12 minutes. Hence you should have 10 to 12 minutes left to write para 3 and 1 in worst case scenario.
For identifying the type of flaw the author's argument may have, please refer to the 2nd attached document.

6. Para 1 should be the least of your concern, if you have enough time then write it thoroughly otherwise, the below sentence would be sufficient:(I did this in my 2nd GMAT attempt and still scored 6.0)
"The argument given above has some merit, but it contains several questionable assumptions and leaves out some important concerns that need to be addressed to substantiate the argument."

7. Keep 2 to 3 mins to revise the argument, if you are running short on time, then rather than cutting down time for step 7 do it for step 6.

8. Keep 1 min or 2 mins to regain your composure before you attempt the IR section. Just calm down, forget about the AWA and then move on.

Useful Tips:
1. Do not leave AWA preparation until the end; I started working on AWA only 12 days before my 1st attempt, and I honestly believe that I got extremely hassled working on it and this affected my GMAT score 1.
2. You can use the template as it is, but I would suggest you to modify it a little and add your sentences, this will give you a feeling of ownership, and it would be easier for you to remember and make use of the template.
3. Even if you decide to give the template I have provided a complete skip; please go through the second document. You will find it useful.

Let me know if anyone of you wants any other information from me; I will be glad to help.

If you need to see the template usage in action, you can read the essays I have written using the template below.
You will find some grammatical mistakes in those essays; this is so because I simply copy-pasted the essays from the GMAT-prep prompt and saved what I had written for analysis and revision.
I suggest you also do the same; you may find peculiar mistakes that you commit while typing fast when you revise your essays later.

Edit 1: Uploaded revised template inclusive of grammatical corrections from Grammarly.

Best regards,
Rahul