6.0 AWA - Does any school care?

Question

I got a 6.0 on the AWA... Do upper levels care? My GMAT total was 650 and undergrad GPA from Tufts U 3.5

Matador · Answer

Not that I have any inside information, but my theory is that the AWA score is more of a "hygiene factor" as compared to the overall GMAT score. In other words, as long as you don't underachieve on the AWA section, the overall GMAT score, 650 in your case, is what matters.

Mark4124 · Answer

Ha, ha... I would translate that as: Useless!

Matador · Answer

haha... not that extreme :wink:

I would say that as long as you have at least 4.0 - 4.5, you have met the "hygiene factor" ... then it all depends on your overall score... but once again, this is solely my theory :wink:

shahnandan · Answer

actually thats a question lingering in my mind as well..I got a 6.0 as well with a 670 overall, was wondering how the schools see it.

Matador · Answer

Well, my AWA score is 4.5 and I have previously been accepted to Columbia and IESE. I can tell you from personal experience that none of the schools that I have applied to has ever mentioned my AWA score, nor have they mentioned it during the information sessions. I believe that so long as you have an acceptable AWA score, your overall GMAT score and the rest of your application (work experience, essays, etc.) are far more important than the AWA score.

NTLancer · Answer

I think matador is 100 % right ... as long as you dont bomb the AWA they wont even look at it

GMATT73 · Answer

Put the least amount of your study prep into the AWA. Just basically use the templates and try to type cogent and clear essays sticking to the stated topic. Personally, I don`t think an e-rater is more qualified than a human. Seems like another way the testmakers are trying to scrimp....

Mark4124 · Answer

I don't think you need to do all of that. Just recognize that they are looking for structure. I did a 5 paragraph, highly organized structure and included many esoteric words. 6.0 without much effort

drummond · Answer

I would not say 'useless'. Remember that competition to some of these schools is very tight, so they may be looking for tie-breakers. Yes, the score is a much bigger deal to getting a look from the committee, but if it comes down to you and someone else on the final slot at your first choice, having a perfect 6.0 on the AWA would be a good thing.

And yeah, for the record I got a 6.0 AWA to go with my 730 overall. No way that hurts, you know?

banerjeea_98 · Answer

Many interviews of adcomm of various schools indicate that AWA scores make no difference. I guess as long as u r 4.0+ it will not make any difference. Only if ur score is < 4 and u have stellar essays, then adcomms might have doubts abt the originality of ur essay. So getting a 4.0 or 6.0 makes no difference whatsoever (+ve or -ve). AWA is a waste of time in GMAT for sure.

Hjort · Answer

AWA is basically a threshold criterion- most places do not care once you clear 4.0 or so. There is a short discussion of AWA here: https://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... 3&start=20

tkkoh · Answer

Furthermore, I think from the schools' perspective, the essays or SOPs are better than AWA to assess candidates' writting ability.

Hence even if you have a relatively low AWA score, you have a 2nd chance to prove yourself with the essays/SOPs. 

A high GMAT score will give you a very nice picture. A high AWA together with a high GMAT score makes the picture sweeter.

bsmith75 · Answer

I am in the "AWA doesn't really matter" camp. I got a 730(48Q, 42V) with a paltry 3.5 AWA and it didn't seem to hurt my apps at all. It was simply never brought up.

B.

6.0 AWA - Does any school care?

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