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Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Argument essay helps in analyzing the candidate's critical thinking and effective communication skills, the academic version of putting down thoughts and presenting the arguments with proper explanation and evidence allows the candidate to express their ideas persuasively. GRE argument essay can be scored high only if the candidate has practiced the writing technique strategically. Hence, the candidate needs to understand the format, evaluating points, and vocabulary required to excel in the GRE argument essay.
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Once the candidate has grasped the way of articulating the GRE argument essay, this would help in creating an everlasting impression and getting exceptional privilege from the admission committees.
The initial phase of preparing for the GRE argument essay is to read the essay question statement carefully and understand the prompt. You should be in a position to break the statement into chunks and identify the keywords and the basic motive of the GRE argument essay so that you have a deeper understanding. Let us take an example to understand an essay in a better way:
Example Question:
"The following appeared in a memo from the marketing director of a new line of kitchen utensils: 'Our extensive market research indicates that there is a growing demand for kitchen utensils that are both durable and eco-friendly. To capitalize on this trend, we propose launching a new line of utensils made from recycled materials. Our research shows that consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their purchases, and our eco-friendly utensils will appeal to this environmentally conscious demographic.'"
Now let's understand the question:
Understand the central argument and that is there is a growing demand for durable and eco friendly utensils so the company proposes launching a new utensil from recycled materials to make more capital.
Think of the assumption that comes to your mind for the understanding, here it is that people consider purchasing eco-friendly products.
Consider the irrelevant side of the assumption, here it would be that the topic is only considering the fact of being eco-friendly and the choice of certain groups of people without proper analyses of the cost of these products and the quality that it would have.
At this stage, you should not confuse yourself, instead make a note of a clear picture of the point that has to be addressed along with its explanation for both the stronger point and the weakness of the reasons you state.
Think of alternative points as what could be the ideal consideration of the consumers, would they compromise with the quality for just preferring eco-friendly products?
Finally, while becoming clear, analyze if all points were considered for the product preferences like market research, particular consumers, and more.
Now that we have understood the main points of GRE argument essay, let's create a roadmap to manage time effectively and score high.
A high-scoring academic essay or GRE argument essay should ideally have 5 total paragraphs including the introduction and the conclusion.
The introduction or the first paragraph of the GRE argument essay should have a paraphrasing statement and a thesis statement, then proceed to the body paragraphs.
Let's divide 30 minutes for this task into breaks like
5 minutes to understand and paraphrase
5 minutes for each body paragraph, in total there should be 3 body paras
5 minutes for conclusion
Last 5 minutes for proofreading.
The thesis statement in the GRE argument essay plays a crucial role as it showcases the focused analytical ability and the level of persuasion a candidate has, following are some of the strategies to craft an effective GRE argument essay thesis statement:
As you have understood the argument prompt, you have to be very specific about the point and concisely write the thesis.
Remember that the thesis should highlight your understanding and relevance of your point.
The example given below will give you an idea of the introduction a candidate is expected to write for the example question mentioned above.
“Although the marketing director's memo suggests a growing demand for eco-friendly kitchen utensils made from recycled materials, a closer examination reveals several assumptions that undermine the argument's validity. This essay will evaluate the reliability of the market research cited, assess the effectiveness of the proposed eco-friendly solution, and explore alternative strategies to meet consumer demand for durable and environmentally conscious kitchen utensils."
As discussed above, we recommend that there should be three body paragraphs, so always remember the key to these body paragraphs is that each paragraph should have only one main point and that should be explained properly along with the evidence to prove your point. Always be mindful that you will not be scoring high if you give a list of points without explaining them. So as you prepare your body paragraphs, you might get a list of thoughts in your mind, but focusing on the point which you can elaborate and prove, should be considered.
For the example that we have taken above, divide the body paragraphs in the following way:
In the first paragraph, evaluate the assumption and discuss a detailed explanation of validity along with an example. Remember that the example should specifically match the assumption and explanation of the argument.
In the second paragraph, you should assess the evidence and to do this, you should discuss both strengths and weaknesses of the evidence, also you may add a counter-example with proper details.
In the third paragraph, you should present the alternative perspective, discuss the same in detail, and mention the issues and their possible solutions.
Finally, for the concluding paragraph, you should reiterate the information given in the thesis statement, restate the body paragraphs, and give a strong recommendation for your argument.
The GRE argument essay has to strictly be written in an academic context to score high.
We recommend the following tips to maintain accurate style of writing.
Avoid sentence fragments
Ensure subject-verb agreement is done accurately
Use punctuations correctly
Must use transitional words to connect the paragraphs
Must use a variety of sentence ranges (complex and compound sentences)
Do not give self-references
Avoid extra sentences and inferences
Organise, develop, and express your ideas.
Prepare well before you appear for the exam so that you can manage time and proofread the entire essay. You should skim it and be in a position to correct any spelling errors, grammar errors, or any redundant word that is used.
Finally, practice writing the GRE argument essay in a timed way so that you are habitual of writing before the exam. Also, enhance your academic contextual vocabulary so that you do not juggle for words and get them readily in your mind.
Remember Practice makes a man perfect!
Now let us understand a few facts that all the candidates must keep in their minds to ensure GRE argument essay success.
In the GRE examination, ETS or the conducting body is not inclined to check whether the candidate agrees with the author’s opinion. The main marking criteria lie in the candidate’s ability to critically analyse the author’s claim and draw a conclusion based on it. The candidates are not asked to support a moral claim but instead use the information given and reach a logical conclusion.
Time management is necessary during the GRE exam. For example. The time given for speaking in the GRE examination is 30 minutes and hence the candidates must structure their responses accordingly.
Evaluators are observed to spend very little time evaluating an essay. Hence, the candidates must structure their essays in a very pleasing manner. The structure beginning with an eye-catching introduction must be followed with a body of information and summarized with an apt conclusion. Not following the structure may result in a reduction of scores.
In the GRE exam, writing a lot does not guarantee high scores but the quality of writing does. The candidate’s argument essay needs to have four paragraphs that are indented. It should be between 350 and 600 words long, ideally around 500 to 600 words. Quality matters most, so you must have a strong logical argument and use excellent examples.
The prompt provides all the necessary information on what the candidate must do. They must carefully read the prompt understand what is being asked and respond to it. Ignoring the prompts may bring ahead a lot of consequences.
The candidates are advised to keep their essays as direct as possible while drafting their GRE argument essay. They must use varied sentence structures as well as good vocabulary to back their essay. Give priority to precise writing rather than over-decorating essays.
The practice questions offered by the GRE practice eBooks are of immense help to the candidates. By working through practice questions and full-length tests, you can pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. This awareness enables you to allocate study time more efficiently, focusing more on areas where improvement is needed.
The ideal word length is around 600 words divided into 5 paragraphs. The essay should be well-organized.
There are plenty of resources online, however, we recommend you to follow only authenticated web portals, ETS sites, and academic books.
The key components are the division of paragraphs, introduction, and thesis in the 1st paragraph, followed by 3 body paragraphs highlighting the arguments, assumptions, and evidence in a detailed manner, and lastly the conclusion.
Read academic content published in authenticated sites or books, learn the correct usage of transitional and connecting words, and practice writing on regular basis.
No, we strongly recommend that you should not be giving personal opinions. Your essay should showcase your critical thinking skills.
Writing a strong GRE essay involves planning, clarity, and structure. Start by understanding the essay prompt thoroughly and outlining your main points before you begin writing. Clearly state your thesis in the introduction and provide specific examples or evidence to support your arguments in the body paragraphs. Make sure to address any counterarguments and demonstrate a clear line of reasoning throughout. Finally, conclude by summarizing your main points and reinforcing your thesis. Proofread your essay before submitting.
GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, and GMAT are standardized tests often required for admission to universities abroad, but they serve different purposes. The **GRE** (Graduate Record Examination) is used for admission to graduate programs and some business schools, focusing on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The **TOEFL** (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and **IELTS** (International English Language Testing System) assess English language proficiency, often required for non-native speakers applying to English-speaking countries; TOEFL is more common in the U.S., while IELTS is popular in the U.K. and other regions. The **GMAT** (Graduate Management Admission Test) is specifically for business school admissions, testing quantitative, verbal, analytical writing, and integrated reasoning skills, and is required for MBA programs. I would advise that you get in touch with a prominent abroad education advisor - a great one will really help you through the entire process, end-to-end. Hence, I would recommend you to focus on that first. Invicta Career Consultancy is one such company, which specializes in training, abroad education and all the related guidance. You can go to their website (icclearning.com) and then decide yourself. All the best.
For pursuing a PhD, the subject you choose for the GRE largely depends on your intended field of study. Generally, you will need to take the GRE General Test, which assesses your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills. Additionally, some programs may require or recommend a GRE Subject Test, which focuses on specific fields such as biology, chemistry, literature, mathematics, physics, and psychology. To get personalized guidance and tailored recommendations on choosing the right subject for your GRE and further assistance with your PhD applications, consider consulting Invicta Career Consultancy, which specializes in helping students navigate the complexities of studying abroad, While there are other options available, hence you can pay a visit to their website (icclearning.com) and get a consult with them for better guidance. All the best to you.
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Dear Student,
For admittance to premier universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and CMU, your resume must be exceptionally strong.
Even if you address all of the aforementioned criteria, there is no assurance that you will be admitted to one of the universities you have named. When you make a decision, a combination of all these criteria will be taken into account, but these 10 ideas are a fantastic place to start.
I know someone who received acceptance letters from MIT, UC Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon University for their MS and PhD programmes after scoring between 1400 and 1600 on the GRE. He applied with an excellent resume that included a 9+ GPA throughout college, two years of research in Microsoft R&D, and a few patents. Therefore, what matters is your whole profile.
I hope that helps! I wish you the best!
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