Use of the GMAT™ Analytical Writing Assessment: Past and Present

Overview

The recent addition of writing requirements to several admission testing programs implies that higher education institutions believe these skills are essential for college success. To assess whether this interest is true for management education, a survey was conducted to evaluate attitudes toward writing assessments among programs that use the Graduate Management Admission Test^™ (GMAT^™). This study compared current uses and usefulness of the AWA to advantages originally anticipated in 1993 and previously reported in 1998. Results from 109 respondents indicated that the section was used and found effective for selection and writing deficiency diagnosis. Additionally, programs with high concentrations of non-native English speaking applicants found the section to be more effective than those with lower concentration.