Test-Taking Strategies for the Analytical Writing Section

　　It is important to budget your time. Within the 30-minute time limit for the Analyze an Issue task, you will need to allow sufficient time to consider the issue and the specific instructions, plan a response, and compose your essay. Within the 30-minute time limit for the Analyze an Argument task, you will need to allow sufficient time to consider the argument and the specific instructions, plan a response, and compose your essay. Although GRE readers understand the time constraints under which you write and will consider your response a first draft, you still want it to be the best possible example of your writing that you can produce under the testing conditions.

　　Save a few minutes at the end of each timed task to check for obvious errors. Although an occasional spelling or grammatical error will not affect your score, severe and persistent errors will detract from the overall effectiveness of your writing and thus lower your score.