Most students see meaningful improvement within 4-8 weeks of focused practice. The AWA rewards a predictable structure and clear reasoning—not perfect writing—so improvement often comes quickly once you understand the format and learn to identify argument flaws efficiently. Tutors can help you develop a template-based approach, practice under timed conditions, and get personalized feedback on your specific weaknesses, whether that's spotting logical fallacies, organizing your essay, or managing time pressure.

Many students struggle with time management—30 minutes sounds like enough until you're analyzing a complex argument and drafting a full essay. Others find it difficult to identify the logical flaws in the prompt, especially when the argument seems reasonable on the surface. A third challenge is understanding that the AWA isn't about your writing quality or opinion; it's about demonstrating critical thinking by finding and explaining weaknesses in the presented argument. Tutors can address each of these with targeted strategies and practice.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment—you'll write a timed essay while your tutor observes, then reviews it to identify your strengths and gaps. This might reveal that you're strong at identifying flaws but weak at organizing your response, or that you're running out of time before finishing. From there, your tutor will create a personalized study plan, often starting with understanding the AWA format and common argument types, then moving into practice essays with feedback. Most students benefit from seeing a few sample essays and learning a reliable structure before diving into independent practice.

Effective AWA practice involves writing full essays under timed conditions—ideally 2-3 per week—using official GMAT prompts. After each essay, review it against a strong sample response to spot gaps in your argument analysis or structure. Keep a log of the types of logical fallacies you miss most often (circular reasoning, false causation, unsupported assumptions, etc.) so you can focus your reading on those patterns. Between timed essays, spend time untimed analyzing arguments to build your critical thinking skills without the pressure of the clock.

Look for tutors who have strong GMAT experience (ideally a high AWA score themselves) and understand the specific rubric GMAC uses to score essays—they should be able to explain exactly what graders are looking for. It's also valuable if they've worked with multiple students and can identify common patterns in argument types and fallacies. For students in Indianapolis, connecting with a tutor who understands your timeline and learning style matters too; whether you're preparing for an upcoming test or building skills over several months, your tutor should adapt their approach to your pace and goals.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the format or fear of running out of time. Tutoring builds confidence through repeated practice under realistic conditions—the more essays you write timed, the less intimidating the real test feels. Your tutor can also teach you a reliable process (read the argument, identify 2-3 main flaws, outline your essay, write) so you're not making decisions on the fly during the test. Additionally, tutors can help you develop mental strategies like recognizing when you're spending too much time on one flaw and learning to move forward, which reduces anxiety and improves your actual performance.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors for the GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment who understand your goals and schedule. You'll work through a brief intake process to share your current AWA level, target score, and test timeline, then get matched with a tutor who fits your needs. Most students start with 1-2 sessions per week and adjust based on their progress and how much time they have to prepare. Your first session is a chance to see if the fit works and to build your personalized study plan.