Scores are in. . . huh?

[Henricus_Rex]

My scores for the new GRE came in the other week and I just don't get it:

V - 167 98th percentile

Q - 144 26th percentile

AW - 3.5 29th percentile. . . huh?

I expected my quantitative score to be poor, I was never strong in math and it's been years since I regularly used anything I learned in high school. Verbal was high, which I expected. However, I expected my writing to be much better. I have to admit that I didn't really review any tips for the writing section - it's writing, I've been doing this well my whole life! And yet here I am with an abysmal writing score. I guess maybe I'm just getting rusty after being out of undergrad for a while and an unfortunate choice to go to law school for a year.

I was originally intending to apply for PhD programs for History, and depending on how a second attempt goes, I might still do that. If the improvement isn't substantially better, I guess I'll have to aim at a Masters program first. Either way, I've got plenty of time to figure out what the readers really want.

Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

[talkloud]

Nobody cares about the AW section. It's literally graded by a computer, and score correlates strongly with length as opposed to structure, strength of analysis, spelling and grammar, etc.

Your verbal score is awesome. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

[Eigen]

Nobody cares about the AW section. It's literally graded by a computer, and score correlates strongly with length as opposed to structure, strength of analysis, spelling and grammar, etc.

I keep hearing this mentioned, but not sourced. I would say that a fairly common structure and spelling/grammar are very important for it.

That said, your AW score is fine. As long as you're not getting something under a 3, I don't think it will set off any warning lights for adcoms. Especially with a good verbal, which you certainly have.

[poeteer]

Agreed, Elgen. I know for a fact that structure, strength of analysis, and grammar matter a good deal for the AWA, and significantly more than length. I also know for a fact that the AWA is not "literally graded by a computer" (but figuratively? well, you might have a point there). Reassuring the OP is fine, and I agree that a 3.5 shouldn't be a problem at the majority of schools, but let's not give bad advice to future examinees who might like to score above a 2.5 on their essay section.

poeteer

[Henricus_Rex]

Thanks for the encouragement. It was just very puzzling to see a weak score in writing, particularly given my background and my Verbal score. I have the time to retake it, though, and I do intend to do so.

[Eigen]

If you plan to re-take the exam, I would focus on the low Q rather than the 3.5 in writing.