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Critical Analysis and Logical Reasoning
Having an essay that is logically sound and that provides a critical analysis of the issues and evidence is an important
component if you want to score in the upper percentile for the Analytical Writing section. Your goal is to convince your

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reader of your point of view by providing a well-
supported case. Having a logically sound argument also means that you
have avoided common logical pitfalls and interpreted the issue and evidence without the use of fallacious reasoning.
A Note on Essay Length
You may have noticed that essay length was not listed as one of the key characteristics of a high-
scoring essay. While
there is no prescribed length for your essay, you should ensure that your essay is comprehensive enough to address the
prompt. Your essay length is certainly important, but it should be a secondary focus. If you are thinking about how to
articulate logical arguments in an organized and cohesive manner by using sufficient evidence to support your position,
the length will likely happen organically.
The essay reviewers know that you have a limited amount of time to construct a well-
reasoned, complete essay; they
understand that you can only do so much in the 30 minutes you are given and that the final product won’t be the most
polished and extensive analysis of the presented issue or argument. What is expected is that your writing will demonstrate
an understanding of the main concepts and sufficiently address the major components of the section according to the
prompt. Covering all these bases is rather hard to do in a few sentences.
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So, while there is no specific length that is required, an essay that includes a brief introduction, two to three body
paragraphs, and a conclusion stands a greater chance of receiving a 5 or 6 than one with just a paragraph or two. Essays
should generally be between 400−600 words. But make sure you are going for quality over quantity and not just adding
superfluous information to make your essay seem longer. Doing so can adversely affect your score.