GRE Test (Analytical Writing)

Question 1

Which of these is the proposition explanation for the section, as a whole?
The following is part of a sample prompt for the Analyze an Argument task.

Accepted Answer

Sentence 4 states a logical consequence of the fact conveyed in sentence 3

Answer

This question refers to the logical structure of an argument. When sentence 4 states a logical consequence of sentence 3, it means that if sentence 3 is true, then sentence 4 must also be true or is a direct, reasonable outcome that follows from the information in sentence 3. This relationship is often seen in analytical writing where a premise (sentence 3) leads directly to a conclusion or implication (sentence 4), forming a coherent logical flow within the argument.

Question 2

Which of the following would be a good thesis statement for an essay with this paragraph in it?

The following is a sample body paragraph for the “analyze an argument” task.
The argument being analyzed supports requiring undergraduate students to study abroad.

Accepted Answer

This argument makes a case for the benefits of studying abroad, but does not convincingly argue that these benefits will be worth it for all students.

Answer

The paragraph is critical of the author’s argument, stating that it does not fully address problems with the need to 
study abroad. Thus, it is likely that the essay as a whole is also critical of the argument. This thesis statement makes
 a case for the overall weakness of the argument in general terms.

Question 3

What might we anticipate the paragraph quickly preceding this one to do?

The following is a sample body paragraph for the “analyze an argument” task.
The argument being analyzed supports requiring undergraduate students to study abroad.

Accepted Answer

Argue that studying abroad for a semester is more expensive than staying at one’s home college, and give examples of added costs.

Answer

This question asks you to think about effective organization of paragraphs. This paragraph argues that scholarships 
would not be enough to cover added costs of study abroad. For this fact to be relevant, we would have to be sure that 
those added costs exist. Thus it would be effective for the paragraph before this one to establish this claim.

Question 4

Which of the following facts, if provided in the paragraph, might support the author's case?

The following is a sample body paragraph for the “analyze an argument” task.
The argument being analyzed supports requiring undergraduate students to study abroad.

Accepted Answer

Statistics detailing what proportion of current study-abroad students received scholarships.

Answer

The author of the sample paragraph supports her argument with a claim that there will not be enough scholarships for 
all low-income students. This seems likely but is not supported with evidence. If the author could provide evidence that 
there is currently little scholarship money available for study abroad, this would support the claim.

Question 5

In this paragraph, which of the following writing strategies is not utilized to enhance the author's argument?

The following is a sample body paragraph for the “analyze an argument” task.
The argument being analyzed supports requiring undergraduate students to study abroad.

Accepted Answer

analogy

Answer

An analogy is a logical comparison between two subjects, intended to make certain features of the topic at hand more clear. 
The passage contains no analogies, but does contain sentences of various lengths, a topic sentence (“The author…does not 

fully address the impact of mandatory study abroad on students from poor backgrounds”) and a paraphrase of the original argument
 (“the author does state that the extra cost of studying abroad could be made up through scholarships”).

GRE Practice Test

GRE Practice Test

GRE Test (Analytical Writing)