{"id":13836,"date":"2019-08-30T00:00:09","date_gmt":"2019-08-30T05:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/grockit.com\/blog\/gre\/?p=1059"},"modified":"2020-09-11T20:41:07","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T20:41:07","slug":"top-10-tips-for-a-higher-gre-essay-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/top-10-tips-for-a-higher-gre-essay-score\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Tips for a Higher GRE Essay Score"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The GRE currently requires two essays, the Issue and the Argument, both of which must be completed before the Quantitative and Verbal sections are attempted. These essays are not graded simply on content alone. Structure is important as well. The layout of the essay must be cogent and easy to follow. If you can demonstrate impressive writing skills as well as a strong ability to organize, you\u2019ll be well on your way to a perfect score on the AWA!<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_iconlist  avia-builder-el-first  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >5 Organizational Tips for a Better Score<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Avoid filler.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Always be direct, not wordy. \u201cFiller\u201d are the unnecessary words and phrases that will bloat your paragraphs. No one wants to read a body paragraph that is 10 sentences long. You should be able to get across your points in 4-7 sentences. Meandering sentence structure is the death of emphasis. Ultimately, your argument and organization is what will impress, not your vocabulary and length.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Place your thesis at the bottom of your intro paragraph.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Remember that the GRE is graded \u201cholistically\u201d and readers are only spending a couple minutes on each essay. Put your thesis where it\u2019s easiest to spot. This is the #1 GRE organizational rule!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Save 1-2 minutes to Proofread.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>If you proofread, look for the \u201cflow\u201d of your essay? Is your organization clear? You can quickly retype transitions and add to paragraphs to improve the structure, but without even a cursory look at the entire \u201cbig picture\u201d of the essay, you risk it not fully coming together organizationally. Also check for spelling and grammar. You won\u2019t be marked down for each spelling or grammar error, but an essay that has five or six glaring errors could be marked down as much as 1 point if it significantly affects the reader\u2019s overall impression of you as a writer.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Avoid slang and clich\u00e9s.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Make sure not to use words like \u201cyou know\u201d, \u201cawesome\u201d, and \u201ccool&#8221; in your essay. This is a formal essay. First-person pronouns should ONLY appear in a body paragraph if you are using personal experience as an example, and telling a story from your own life to support your thesis. Never use \u201cI think\u201d or \u201cI believe.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Make sure each paragraph serves a purpose.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Your first paragraph should introduce the issue\/argument, while each body paragraph should introduce a supporting point and explain how it fully supports your thesis. The final paragraph is used to summarize and restate your main idea. You may include other paragraphs (for example, one that describes how the argument could be strengthened), but be sure to properly use transitions in the topic sentence so the reader is always aware of how each paragraph develops the thesis and fits within the larger structure.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_iconlist  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >5 Tips for an Extra Point<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nThe GRE Issue and Argument essays don\u2019t have to be laborious. It\u2019s relatively easy to achieve a high score with good time management, a solid template, and a little hard practice. Looking to add .5 to 1 extra point on top of your score? Follow these 5 easy tips to take your GRE essays to the next level!<br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_heading  avia-builder-el-last '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Be forceful.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Avoid any kind of wishy-washy qualifying language in your Issue and Argument essays. Your tone needs to be forceful, confident, like an expert\u2019s. Remove words like \u201ccould be\u201d, \u201cmight be\u201d, \u201cperhaps\u201d, \u201cmaybe\u201d, etc. from your essay when you proofread. Go through scholarly business articles and\/or other students\u2019 successful GRE AWA essays, and highlight phrases that particularly stand out to you as impressive, well-wrought, and cogent. Make a list of your favorites and try to incorporate them when appropriate in your own essays. Don\u2019t shoehorn them in if the essay really doesn\u2019t call for it, but the act of even researching and putting together such a list will really get you headed in the right direction!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Keep it in third-person.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>There\u2019s no easier way to sound less self-assured than to pepper your essays with \u201cI think\u201d\u2019s and \u201cI believe\u201d\u2019s. Of <em>course<\/em> you believe it, you\u2019re the one writing the essay! Referring to yourself does not add anything to the essay and distracts the reader from your argument. Keep the focus on the points you are trying to make. If you would like to use an example incident from your own life, then by all means.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Use strong transitions.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>You will need to steer the reader from paragraph to paragraph while always holding the thread of your argument together. The best way to do this is to use good transition words and phrases. Try to beef up these words and avoid common clich\u00e9s. If you are just beginning to practice, it\u2019s better to be clear and use words like \u201cfirstly\u2026\u201d and \u201csecondly\u2026\u201d when you set up a transition rather than have no transitions at all, but as you get better at GRE AWA, try to mix it up.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Control your sentence structure.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Sometimes longer just isn\u2019t better. Be wary of your sentence structure meandering out of your control and getting wordy, redundant, or just plain pedantic. Especially if English is your second language, it will behoove you to keep your sentences on the shorter side. Don\u2019t get so lost in the description of your example that you forget to clarify how it supports your position. It\u2019s better to be succinct and forceful than prove you have an extensive vocabulary but lose sight of your argument.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Stay away from rhetorical questions.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Don\u2019t be tempted to start your essay with a question. It\u2019s clich\u00e9 and is often overused. Rhetorical questions just never sound as good on paper as they do in speech, and can give the impression that you don\u2019t really know what you are talking about. Especially avoid this in your introduction and conclusion.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The GRE currently requires two essays, the Issue and the Argument, both of which must be completed before the Quantitative and Verbal sections are attempted. These essays are not graded simply on content alone. Structure is important as well. The layout of the essay must be cogent and easy to follow. If you can demonstrate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27108,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[68],"tags":[367],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13836"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13836"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13836\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34616,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13836\/revisions\/34616"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}