How does the Analytical Writing section differ from the Verbal section of the revised General Test?
Because the Analytical Writing section is a performance test, test takers must articulate and support their own ideas as they discuss a complex issue as well as construct and evaluate arguments and sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The Verbal Reasoning measure of the GRE revised General Test assesses the ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it, analyze relationships among component parts of sentences and recognize relationships among words and concepts. Whereas the Verbal section measures a test taker’s ability to understand complex ideas expressed in written passages and to recognize relationships among words and concepts, the Analytical Writing section measures the ability to articulate and support ideas and to analyze arguments.
