AWA Scoring and Criteria 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: For the Analyze an Issue essay, which approach is most rewarded by AWA raters?
- Taking a clear position and supporting it with specific, relevant examples and reasoning (Correct answer)
- Presenting both sides equally without committing to a position
- Writing the longest possible essay to demonstrate effort
- Focusing entirely on emotional appeals to persuade the reader
Correct answer: Taking a clear position and supporting it with specific, relevant examples and reasoning
High-scoring Issue essays take a clear stance and develop it with well-reasoned support and relevant examples.
Question 2: Which of the following AWA essay characteristics would a rater classify as showing 'little control of language'?
- An occasional comma splice
- Varied sentence structure with a few minor word-choice errors
- Systematic errors in grammar, syntax, and word choice that obscure meaning (Correct answer)
- Using a semicolon incorrectly once
Correct answer: Systematic errors in grammar, syntax, and word choice that obscure meaning
Systematic, pervasive language errors that interfere with comprehension signal poor control of standard written English.
Question 3: What is the significance of the AWA score being reported separately from the Verbal and Quantitative scores?
- It means the AWA does not count toward graduate school admission decisions
- It allows admissions committees to assess writing ability independently of other cognitive skills (Correct answer)
- It indicates that AWA is optional for all test takers
- It means the AWA score is only visible to the test taker, not schools
Correct answer: It allows admissions committees to assess writing ability independently of other cognitive skills
Separate reporting lets programs evaluate writing as a distinct skill set from verbal or quantitative reasoning.
Question 4: Which of the following would MOST strengthen an Analyze an Issue essay score?
- Restating the prompt multiple times
- Acknowledging and thoughtfully countering opposing views (Correct answer)
- Using complex vocabulary regardless of appropriateness
- Writing more than 600 words with minimal analysis
Correct answer: Acknowledging and thoughtfully countering opposing views
Addressing counterarguments and refuting them demonstrates sophisticated critical thinking, which raters reward with higher scores.
Question 5: AWA essays are read by trained raters who use what type of scoring method?
- Analytic scoring with separate scores for grammar, content, and organization
- Holistic scoring that evaluates overall quality as a unified impression (Correct answer)
- Criterion-referenced scoring against a model answer
- Comparative scoring where essays are ranked against each other
Correct answer: Holistic scoring that evaluates overall quality as a unified impression
AWA uses holistic scoring, where raters assign a single score reflecting their overall impression of the essay's quality.
Question 6: What happens to an AWA essay that is off-topic or written in a language other than English?
- It receives a score of 1
- It receives a score of 0 (Correct answer)
- It is flagged and sent to a specialist rater
- It receives an NS designation
Correct answer: It receives a score of 0
Essays that are off-topic or written in a language other than English receive a score of 0.
Question 7: Which logical flaw should test takers prioritize identifying in the Analyze an Argument task?
- The author's biography and credentials
- Unstated assumptions that, if false, would undermine the conclusion (Correct answer)
- The length and structure of the argument passage
- The emotional tone used by the argument's author
Correct answer: Unstated assumptions that, if false, would undermine the conclusion
Identifying and explaining unstated assumptions is the core analytical move ETS expects in Argument essays.
AWA Scoring and Criteria 4
For the Analyze an Issue essay, which approach is most rewarded by AWA raters?