<p>The GRE is looking for a certain type of writing style. Mainly, can you argue your point and provide examples/evidence in a 5 paragraph essay? It's stupid, but that's what the test measures. I got a 4.5/6.0 using that writing style. My score could have been higher if I didn't BS (I simply couldn't think of quality examples) through one of the essays.</p>
<p>The writing test is just stupid. Timed writing with nothing to refer to? How retarded is that? What does that have to do with anything realistic?</p>
<p>I got a 4.5 without reading one sample essay or even reading the directions. But now that I've looked more into it, I see that I could have easily gotten a 6 if I wrote in the style they are looking for.</p>
<p>Now, if you really prepare for the writing portion and still get a poor score, then something is wrong with your writing. A lot of academic writing is notorious for being horrible, so to say that you've spent a lot of time writing doesn't necessarily mean you write well. </p>
<p>Another thing, I often begin sentences with 'but' or 'and'. Yet I am perfectly aware that some graders might consider this to be incorrect. Well, screw them.</p>
<p>I have the same problem here: I got 570 on Verb( it’s REALLY not easy to a international student to get that score) and 800 on Math. however, I just get 2.5 on my analytical writing.</p>
<p>Do I have to retake the test? I’m worried that will the low writing grade seriously hurt my application even most of biochem don’t have any “minimum limit on GRE”</p>
<p>To be perfectly honest, the sheer disparity between the verbal score and the AW score would probably raise a few eyebrows.</p>