Last visit was: 26 Apr 2026, 22:52 It is currently 26 Apr 2026, 22:52
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Dilshod
User avatar
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Last visit: 20 Mar 2009
Posts: 272
Own Kudos:
35
Posts: 272
Kudos: 35
AWA do I need it? 26 Oct 2005, 03:43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The school I am apllying to doesn't consider AWA section of the test.
May I leave the AWA section blank? Will it harm my overall score?

Thank you!
User avatar
Paul
User avatar
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Last visit: 10 Nov 2012
Posts: 2,707
Own Kudos:
1,652
Posts: 2,707
Kudos: 1,652
AWA do I need it? 26 Oct 2005, 03:46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Why skip it? You actually can and it will not harm your overall score but write at least something as it could look strange to have a 0. Schools still see that score even though they don't require it.
User avatar
kimmyg
User avatar
Joined: 17 Aug 2005
Last visit: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 106
Own Kudos:
2,627
Posts: 106
Kudos: 2,627
AWA do I need it? 26 Oct 2005, 05:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I would suggest that you write something. I took the paper test on Saturday (won't have my scores for another month) and the proctor told us that if we left any sections unanswered, we would not receive a score.

I was nervous because I had never practised one single essay before the test but on test day, I wrote and wrote and wrote...and I had to do all of this with a pencil :evil:
User avatar
coffeeloverfreak
User avatar
Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Last visit: 18 Dec 2018
Posts: 246
Own Kudos:
962
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 246
Kudos: 962
AWA do I need it? 26 Oct 2005, 06:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Don't skip it! These scores are good on your record for years. What if you decide to apply to a different school? Just do the best you can on it and see what kind of score you get.
User avatar
olorin
User avatar
Joined: 03 Oct 2005
Last visit: 02 Jan 2006
Posts: 50
Own Kudos:
18
Posts: 50
Kudos: 18
AWA do I need it? 26 Oct 2005, 10:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I was at a MIT meet recently and their admissions rep was asked whether it's ok to polish up the admission essays a little bit. She did say that the essays should not be too bad (so some polishing is ok) but she really pointed out that the schools were looking for the individual applicant's voice and sometimes the polishing takes that away.

Another thing that she did say is that they can sometimes make out that an essay has been polished by looking at the essay on the person's GMAT - if there's a huge difference in quality/style, then they might think that it has been thru a professional polish job.

So, I would say that while you might not want to spend too much time sweating the essay, do try to do a decent job.

Of course, this is one incident from one college rep's. I've been to other meets where they've said that they ignore the AWA and also that they ignore individual section scores and only concentrate on the full score (Stern, I think). So, it's very much on a school-by-school basis. Why not send an email to those schools that you're thinking of applying and see what they say?
User avatar
ValleyBall1
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jul 2005
Last visit: 18 Nov 2011
Posts: 208
Own Kudos:
31
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 208
Kudos: 31
AWA do I need it? 26 Oct 2005, 12:46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Even if the school does not count the AWA score, take that time to prepare your mind for the next 2.5 hours of hell. Think of the AWA essays as a warm up for the verbal section (especially CR).
Moderator:
bb
Founder
43163 posts