GRE Score Level Descriptions

Although the GRE Analytical Writing measure contains two discrete analytical writing tasks, a single
combined score is reported because it is more reliable than is a score for either task alone. The reported
score, the average of the scores for the two tasks, ranges from 0 to 6, in half-point increments.
The statements below describe, for each score level, the overall quality of analytical writing demonstrated
across both the Issue and Argument tasks. Because the test assesses "analytical writing," critical thinking
skills (the ability to reason, assemble evidence to develop a position, and communicate complex ideas)
weigh more heavily than the writer's control of fine points of grammar or the mechanics of writing (e.g.,
spelling).
SCORES 6 and 5.5 – Sustains insightful, indepth
analysis of complex ideas; develops and
supports main points with logically compelling
reasons and/or highly persuasive examples; is
well focused and well organized; skillfully uses
sentence variety and precise vocabulary to
convey meaning effectively; demonstrates
superior facility with sentence structure and
language usage but may have minor errors that
do not interfere with meaning.
SCORES 5 and 4.5 – Provides generally
thoughtful analysis of complex ideas; develops
and supports main points with logically sound
reasons and/or well-chosen examples; is
generally focused and well organized; uses
sentence variety and vocabulary to convey
meaning clearly; demonstrates good control of
sentence structure and language usage but may
have minor errors that do not interfere with
meaning.
SCORES 4 and 3.5 – Provides competent
analysis of ideas; develops and supports main
points with relevant reasons and/or examples; is
adequately organized; conveys meaning with
reasonable clarity; demonstrates satisfactory
control of sentence structure and language usage
but may have some errors that affect clarity.
SCORES 3 and 2.5 – Displays some
competence in analytical writing, although the
writing is flawed in at least one of the following
ways: limited analysis or development; weak
organization; weak control of sentence structure
or language usage, with errors that often result in
vagueness or lack of clarity.
SCORES 2 and 1.5 – Displays serious
weaknesses in analytical writing. The writing is
seriously flawed in at least one of the following
ways: serious lack of analysis or development;
lack of organization; serious and frequent
problems in sentence structure or language
usage, with errors that obscure meaning.
SCORE 1 and 0.5 – Displays fundamental
deficiencies in analytical writing. The writing is
fundamentally flawed in at least one of the
following ways: content that is extremely
confusing or mostly irrelevant to the assigned
tasks; little or no development; severe and
pervasive errors that result in incoherence.
SCORE 0 – The examinee's analytical writing
skills cannot be evaluated because the responses
do not address any part of the assigned tasks, are
merely attempts to copy the assignments, are in a
foreign language, or display only indecipherable
text.
SCORE NS – The examinee produced no text
whatsoever.