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GRE FAQ › Writing (AWA)

How many words should a GRE essay be? / How long should it be?

There's no official word count requirement, but strong essays typically run 400 to 600 words. That's roughly 4 to 5 solid paragraphs. Quality matters far more than length. A concise, well-argued 400-word essay will score higher than a rambling 700-word one. Focus on clear reasoning and specific examples, not hitting a word count.

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