While your AWA score doesn't affect your overall GMAT composite, most business schools do review it as part of your application. A strong essay demonstrates clear reasoning and articulate writing—qualities MBA programs value. A weak AWA can raise questions about your communication abilities, so it's worth preparing thoroughly to ensure your essay reflects your actual skills.

Students typically struggle with three main issues: understanding the argument structure quickly, organizing a persuasive essay under time pressure, and identifying logical fallacies in the prompt. Many also find it difficult to balance thorough analysis with the 30-minute time constraint, leading to rushed or incomplete essays. Personalized tutoring helps you develop a repeatable framework for analyzing arguments and writing efficiently.

A solid approach allocates roughly 2-3 minutes to read and analyze the argument, 20-22 minutes to write your essay, and 3-5 minutes to proofread. The key is spending those first few minutes identifying the argument's main claim, assumptions, and logical gaps before you start writing—this prevents rambling and keeps your essay focused. Tutors can help you practice this timing repeatedly so it becomes automatic on test day.

Most students see meaningful improvement within 4-8 weeks of focused practice, especially if they start without a clear essay structure or analysis method. The AWA rewards consistency and clarity over brilliance, so once you master the framework for dissecting arguments and organizing your response, score improvements of 1-2 points are realistic. Your progress depends on how regularly you practice and apply feedback between sessions.

In your first session, a tutor will assess your current writing level, have you attempt a sample AWA prompt, and identify your specific weaknesses—whether that's argument analysis, essay organization, grammar, or time management. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that targets these areas and includes practice essays with detailed feedback. Tutors for students in Port St. Lucie can work with your schedule to ensure you're ready before your test date.

Most students benefit from writing 15-25 practice essays spaced over several weeks, which allows you to internalize the argument-analysis framework and build writing stamina. Quality matters more than quantity—each essay should be timed, reviewed for logical gaps and clarity, and analyzed for patterns in your mistakes. A tutor can guide you through this practice schedule and provide targeted feedback that accelerates improvement.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment prep and understand the specific demands of the essay section. Once you're matched, you'll work together on argument analysis, essay structure, time management, and practice under test conditions. You can start with a single session to see if the fit works, then scale up your tutoring frequency based on your test date and goals.