AWA Scoring and Criteria 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How soon after a GRE test are AWA scores typically available?
- Immediately at the end of the test session
- Within 24 hours
- 10–15 days after the test date (Correct answer)
- 30–45 days after the test date
Correct answer: 10–15 days after the test date
AWA scores require human rating and are typically available 10–15 days after the test date, unlike Verbal and Quantitative scores which appear sooner.
Question 2: Which of the following best captures what 'development' means in the AWA scoring rubric?
- The number of paragraphs in the essay
- The extent to which ideas are elaborated with reasons, examples, and analysis (Correct answer)
- The use of advanced vocabulary throughout the essay
- The length of the introduction and conclusion
Correct answer: The extent to which ideas are elaborated with reasons, examples, and analysis
Development refers to how fully ideas are explored and supported—not paragraph count or vocabulary complexity.
Question 3: A test taker's AWA essay heavily plagiarizes published material. What is the consequence?
- The essay is rescored by a lenient rater
- ETS cancels the test scores and may ban the test taker (Correct answer)
- The essay receives a score reduction of 2 points
- The test taker is given an opportunity to rewrite the essay
Correct answer: ETS cancels the test scores and may ban the test taker
ETS has strict policies against score fraud; plagiarism can result in score cancellation and potential testing bans.
Question 4: Which AWA score range is generally considered competitive for admission to top-tier graduate programs?
- 2.0–3.0
- 3.5–4.0
- 4.5–6.0 (Correct answer)
- Any score above 1.0
Correct answer: 4.5–6.0
Most competitive graduate programs expect AWA scores of 4.5 or higher, with 5.0–6.0 being particularly strong.
Question 5: What is the correct interpretation of 'coherence' as an AWA scoring criterion?
- The essay avoids using first-person pronouns
- Ideas are logically connected and flow smoothly from one to the next (Correct answer)
- All sentences are grammatically perfect
- The essay exactly matches the word count recommendation
Correct answer: Ideas are logically connected and flow smoothly from one to the next
Coherence means the essay hangs together logically—transitions, topic sentences, and sequencing all guide the reader through the argument.
Question 6: Which of the following statements about AWA score validity is true?
- AWA scores expire after one year
- AWA scores are valid for five years, the same as GRE Verbal and Quantitative scores (Correct answer)
- AWA scores do not expire and are valid indefinitely
- AWA scores expire after two years
Correct answer: AWA scores are valid for five years, the same as GRE Verbal and Quantitative scores
Like all GRE scores, AWA scores are reportable for five years after the test date.
Question 7: When raters evaluate 'organization' in an AWA essay, what are they primarily assessing?
- Whether the essay uses bullet points or numbered lists
- Whether ideas are presented in a clear, logical sequence with an identifiable structure (Correct answer)
- Whether the essay is divided into exactly five paragraphs
- Whether the test taker used an outline before writing
Correct answer: Whether ideas are presented in a clear, logical sequence with an identifiable structure
Organization refers to logical sequencing and structural clarity, not adherence to a specific format or paragraph count.
AWA Scoring and Criteria 5
How soon after a GRE test are AWA scores typically available?