Study and Strategy questions relating to the GMAT.
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Fabricating Examples on AWA

by guest Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:05 pm

1. Is it a big no-no to make up experiences and pass them off as real examples. For example, could you make something up about a real company, even though it might not be true, but would be a legitimate example for your argument?

2. In test-takers experience, how much of a hassle is it to get the 5 whiteboards you are given for the math section replaced? I generally finish the math section as time expires and am worrying that the time delay from replacing my whiteboards (as I tend to write alot) will force me to guess on the last question or two.

Thanks!
StaceyKoprince
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by StaceyKoprince Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:24 pm

You can make up anything you want. How would they know? :) In fact, they have a general policy NOT to fact check things (they aren't going to spend the time to do that on every essay, and if they don't do it for all of them, they can't do it for any of them - standardized test, remember?).

Technically, you will write better about things that really happened than you will about things that you're making up as you go along. So if you can think of something real, use it. But if you can't think of anything, go ahead and make something up. Just make it sound real.

It can be easy or hard, depending upon how quickly the person watching the room notices you and whether some other person (or two) raises his/her hand right before you raise yours.

You have a total of 9 sheets of legal-sized paper, so you have quite a bit of work surface. If you average only 4 questions per page, you can use one booklet for the entire math section (and then switch out for a clean booklet on the break between math and verbal). Given that the paper is oversized, it shouldn't be a problem to do 4 per page - if your work is spread all over the place now, you should find a way to keep it cleaner and better organized anyway, so that you don't make as many careless mistakes.
Stacey Koprince
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Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep