GMAC Business Writing – BWA

Introduction to the GMAC BWA

The Analytical Writing Assessment was removed from the GMAT with the introduction of the GMAT Focus Edition in 2023, meaning there was no longer any included or required writing assessment as part of the exam. For a few months, test-takers were not required to complete any sort of writing assessment; however, in July 2024, the GMAC reintroduced a renamed writing assessment called the Business Writing Assessment (BWA). This was likely in response to business programs, led by Harvard Business School, expressing the need to have some way to assess the true writing abilities of potential students, given the rise of AI-assisted writing technologies being used to complete business school applications and craft personal statements. 

With the reintroduction of a writing assessment, MBA candidates applying to Harvard Business School in the 2025 admission cycle, using the GMAT Focus Edition exam will also be required to take the Business Writing Assessment if they are invited to interview. Other top-tier business programs have expressed interest in the BWA and have indicated they "may" require students to take the exam if they are invited to interview or are accepted to a particular program. 

While the BWA was created by the GMAC, the exam is entirely separate from the GMAT. It must be registered for separately and is not taken along with the GMAT, although it may be registered for and completed online any day of the year, making it easy to fit it in even the busiest schedule.

Some people look forward to the opportunity to break out of the multiple-choice format found on the GMAT and to present their thoughts in written form, while others are terrified by the prospect of writing an essay. Whichever side you land on, it's possible to master the BWA: all that's necessary is structured thinking and a good grasp of the English language.

What is the BWA?

Essentially, the test-taker is given 30 minutes to write an analytical essay, critiquing and evaluating a flawed argument. (This is along the lines of a "weaken" argument for a Critical Reasoning question in the Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT Focus Edition.)

Since the BWA is a not a part of the GMAT, it's not factored into the total GMAT score. Instead, it is a separate test with a separate score, on which the test-taker earns points on a scale of 0 to 6 in 1-point increments. Both a computer and a human will evaluate and grade your essay, and you'll receive your BWA score within three to five days of taking the exam. In some cases, there may be a score disparity of more than one point between the computer score and the human score. If this happens, a second human scorer is asked to evaluate the writing.

What does the BWA specifically want?

The BWA score is based on three main categories:

Organization and Presentation

While assessing your writing, the readers will look at how you present your thoughts. Your writing will be considered coherent if you have logical transitions between ideas and there is a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. If your thoughts are unorganized and haphazard, this will lower your score.

Logical Analysis

When considering the quality of your logical analysis, the readers will consider the caliber of the ideas you present and points you make. Further, they will evaluate whether your examples and supporting details are relevant to the argument you are making.

Linguistic Skills

Linguistic skills encompass a couple of areas. First, the reader will evaluate your technical grasp of elements of standard written English. The readers are trained to be conscious of and sensitive to non-native English speakers, but if English is not your first or native language, you will want to at least be comfortable with the basics of writing in English to avoid losing points. Second, the reader will also consider how your writing style contributes to making either a persuasive argument or a flawed one. 

While the BWA might seem easier than certain sections of the GMAT, it's worth taking your time and practicing your skills of writing logical, persuasive arguments in order to complete it to the best of your abilities. Given the need to thoroughly assess the writing skills of potential students, it is conceivable and even likely that the BWA will play an increased role in business school applications and admissions.