How to Type in GRE Essay
The Analytical Writing section of the GRE is composed of two essays – the Issue Task and the Argument Task. For both essays, you will be presented with a prompt on the screen and required to type your response on the computer keyboard within the allotted time of 30 minutes per essay. While typing skills are assumed in the digital age, typing essays under time pressure requires specific strategies to maximize your scores. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to effectively type essays for the GRE Analytical Writing section.
Use a Comfortable Typing Position
Finding a comfortable typing position is crucial to maintain focus and avoid fatigue as you type non-stop for 30 minutes. Sit with your back straight and feet flat on the floor for proper posture. Position the computer directly in front of you at eye level to avoid awkward angles that can strain your neck and back. Make sure your hands and wrists are relaxed and floating slightly above the keyboard without touching it. Use a comfortable chair with good back and wrist support. Adjusting your seating and positioning will help you type smoothly without tensing up.
Practice Typing without Looking at Keys
Touch typing without looking at your hands or keyboard allows you to focus solely on your writing and organization of ideas. Take time beforehand to practice common GRE essay words, transition phrases and expressions so you can type them smoothly without slowing down to hunt-and-peck. Master basic typing techniques like using both hands alternately and keeping fingers curved loosely over home row keys. Don’t be afraid to slowly build speed through practice. Achieving a writing flow will serve you better on test day than attempting to type too fast.
Use Shortcuts and Function Keys Wisely
Taking advantage of keyboard shortcuts and function keys can help streamline your writing process. Common shortcuts like CTRL+C, CTRL+V and CTRL+X allow you to copy, paste and cut text segments quickly during editing. Use the left and right arrow keys along with BACKSPACE and DELETE to effortlessly move, insert or remove text.Page Up/Down keys let you browse through your writing without using the mouse. Space bar acts as an extended pause between thoughts without stopping the flow. Learning a few useful shortcuts tailored for essay writing can boost your speed and efficiency.
Draft and Edit in Sections
Dividing your essay writing into clear sections using strategic punctuation marks like colons or paragraph breaks makes editing and rearranging ideas effortless. Start by outlining your main points to guide your overall structure. Draft your introduction, followed by discrete body paragraphs dealing with separate sub-points or examples. Leave spaced gaps between these sections to allow easy insertion of new ideas later. Similarly, draft the conclusion last and review the overall flow before hitting submit. Sectioning your response this way streamlines the writing-editing cycle.
Use AutoSave to Prevent Accidental Loss
Given the time pressure and intensity involved, it is easy to accidentally hit wrong keys or close the browser tab while typing under stress. To avoid losing hours of work, make sure to enable AutoSave in your browser by default. Most modern browsers and word processors automatically save drafts periodically in the background as you type. You can also manually trigger Saves periodically by hitting CTRL+S to be doubly sure no progress is lost due to technical glitches. Stay calm and focused knowing your work is constantly backed up as you compose.
Proofread for Errors and Cohesion
Despite touch typing skills, typos, grammatical mistakes and lack of cohesion often slip through under intense time pressure. Budget some of your remaining time at the end to proofread your essay line-by-line slowly. Read it aloud or have it read back to catch errors your eyes may have missed on the first pass. Check for subject-verb agreement issues, consistent verb tense, proper capitalization of names and start of sentences. Ensure your ideas flow logically and smoothly between paragraphs using transition words and phrases. Proofreading thoroughly before submitting will maximize your analytical writing scores.
Practice Typing Essays Regularly
None of the above techniques will benefit much without regular practice typing sample essays under timed conditions similar to the actual GRE. Build up speed, endurance and accuracy gradually by typing 2-3 sample essays per week over several months leading up to your test date. Use official GRE prompts and model responses to polish your structure, organization of ideas and writing style. Continue using AutoSave as you might on test day. Obtain feedback on your writing from practice essay evaluations. Constant practice is essential to achieve sufficient typing speed, stamina and perfection needed to ace all parts of the Analytical Writing section.
Typing skills are fundamental to success in the analytical writing section of the GRE. With dedicated practice adhering to ergonomic principles, use of keyboard shortcuts, section-wise drafting and thorough proofreading, you can significantly enhance your performance within the 30-minute time constraints. Maintain a calm, focused mental state to properly organize and convey your ideas without rushing or straining yourself. Implementing the outlined typing strategies systematically will help you leverage your maximum potential when it matters the most on GRE test day. Commit to regular typing practice using authentic prompts, and you are sure to score high through confident, error-free digital communication of your analytical thinking abilities.
Andrew Stroud