Top 10 GRE Essay Tips to Improve Your Score
Most students consider the GRE Essay as the most stressful assignment ever, but it’s not so difficult as it seems. The GRE usually consists of two essays the Issue and the Argument and they should be accomplished before the Quantitative and Verbal parts are attempted. These two essays are not assessed just on the content alone. They both also must be well-structured. It is important to make your layout of persuasive and easy to follow. If you are able to show wonderful writing skills as well as a solid ability to organize, you will get definitely a perfect grade.
5 Organizational Tips for a Higher Score
Eschew Unnecessary Words to Simply Bloat the Essay
Try to be always accurate and direct, now wordy! It is boring to read the text that is littered with irrelevant and worthless words and phrases just to fill up the paragraph. Please, don’t exaggerate with sentences, 4-7 sentences will be more than enough. Remember, you should demonstrate a good argument and organization, not your rich vocabulary.
Put the Thesis Statement at the Bottom of the Introduction
Keep in mind, the GRE is often assessed holistically, and the readers spend a couple minutes on each paper. Place your thesis where it’s easiest to see. This the rule №1 in GRE organization!
Find Time for Proofreading
Pay special attention to the “flow” of your essay and check out attentively is the organization clear. Make sure that spelling and grammar are correct because the paper with five or more errors could be graded as 1 point what significantly affects the reader’s general impression of you as a good writer.
Say “No” to Slang and Clichés
First, you should remember that it is a formal essay. So, don’t use such words as “cool”, “nice”, “you know», «awesome” in your paper. Avoid phrases like “I think” or “I believe”. If you’re going to tell about your own experience from the life to sustain the thesis, only in this case the first-person pronouns may appear in your work.
Be Sure Each Paragraph is Well-written
The first paragraph should represent the argument or issue while each body paragraph has to introduce the supporting point and explain how it completely supports the thesis. The final paragraph or conclusion is used to sum up, and change the main idea. The other paragraphs may be also included (e.g. one that tells how the argument could be intensified.
5 Recommendations for an Extra Point
Keep It in the Convincing Tone
Don’t allow wishy-washy language to spoil the “picture” of the Issue and Argument essay. Like an expert, you should follow confident and forceful tone. If you proofread the text, please get rid of such words as “maybe”, “might be”, “perhaps”, “could be” etc. Look for some scholarly business articles samples of students’ GRE AWA essays, and go through them to find phrases that are often used in such papers. Make a list of your favorites and use them while writing the GRE.
Write in Third-Person
Yes, you’re the one writing the essay, but referring to yourself doesn’t add anything to the paper. Phrases like “I think” or “I believe” only distract your readers from the argument. Keep the focus on the points you are intending to convey.
Provide Good Transitions
One of your main tasks is to direct the readers from paragraph to paragraph keeping the thread of the argument together. You may do this just by using proper transition words and phrases. If you are the beginner here, it’s better to use the words “firstly”, and “secondly”.
Check Out the Sentence Structure
Remember, sometimes long sentences are not so good. It’s better to keep the structure in brief and forceful way than prove you have the extensive vocabulary. Don’t be so wordy, just not to lose sight of the argument.
Rhetorical Questions Are Not the Best Choice
It’s not a good idea to start your essay with rhetoric questions. My recommendation, try to especially eschew them in intro and conclusion. Maybe in the speech, they sound not bad, but on the paper, it may give the impression that you don’t completely understand what you’re writing about.
