Recorded at the BWA’s launch in 2024 — a couple of the specifics have since changed, e.g. it’s now free, but the “don’t panic” reasoning still holds.
Should You Be Worried About the GMAC Business Writing Assessment?
Short answer: NO. If you’re smart enough to be applying to top MBA programs, this test should be a total piece of cake. But let’s break down exactly what it is, who needs to take it, and how to prepare — so you can stop Googling and start focusing on the parts of your application that ACTUALLY matter.
What Is the GMAC Business Writing Assessment?
The Business Writing Assessment (BWA) is a short, standalone writing test created by GMAC — the same people who make the GMAT. It exists because GMAC removed the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) from the GMAT Focus Edition to make the test shorter. Then AI happened, and schools suddenly wanted a way to verify that applicants can actually write without ChatGPT’s help.
So GMAC created a separate writing test. (Yes, it’s a little awkward. No, you shouldn’t lose sleep over it.)
Who Needs to Take the BWA?
You MAY need to take it if ALL of these are true:
- You took the GMAT Focus Edition (not the old GMAT, which included the AWA)
- You’re invited to interview at a school that requires it
- You do NOT have another written English assessment on file (GRE Analytical Writing, TOEFL Writing, etc.)
Currently, Harvard Business School requires the BWA for interview invitees who meet the criteria above. MIT Sloan may require it under similar conditions, and Columbia Business School also participates. More schools will likely follow — so always check your target programs’ current testing policies before you apply.
PUT ANOTHER WAY — if you took the GRE instead of the GMAT, or you took the old GMAT (with the AWA section), you’re probably in the clear. And if you attended a college where English was the primary language of instruction, this is almost certainly a non-issue for you.
BWA Quick Facts
- Cost: FREE (zero-cost as of October 2025 — it briefly launched at ~$30, but GMAC dropped the fee)
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Format: Analyze a brief argument — critique the reasoning and evidence. NOT a personal essay.
- Scoring: 0–6 scale (same as the old AWA)
- Delivery: Online, proctored, available year-round
- Results: Sent within 3–5 days
- Score sharing: Unlimited schools at no extra charge
- Prep time needed: Honestly? 2–6 hours, max.
What Does the BWA Actually Test?
The BWA asks you to read a short argument and then write a critique of that argument’s reasoning and evidence. This is NOT a creative writing exercise. You’re not writing about yourself or your career goals. You’re doing something much more like what you’d do in a case study discussion:
- Identify logical flaws in the argument
- Point out unsupported assumptions
- Evaluate the quality of the evidence presented
- Organize your thoughts coherently in writing
If you’ve ever said “but that conclusion doesn’t follow from that data” in a meeting, you already have the skill this test is measuring.
How to Prepare (Without Overthinking It)
- Read 2–3 sample prompts from GMAC’s website. Get a feel for the format.
- Practice writing ONE timed response. Set a timer for 30 minutes and write a full critique.
- Review your response. Did you identify the key logical flaws? Is your writing clear and organized?
- That’s it. Seriously.
The BWA is testing whether you can think critically and express yourself clearly in writing — under time pressure, without AI tools. If you’re a competitive MBA candidate, you can already do this. Don’t overprepare for something that is NOT the hard part of your application.
About That Fee (Good News: There Isn’t One Anymore)
When the BWA launched in 2024, GMAC charged about $30 for it — and I said at the time that I understood the proctoring costs, but that it really ought to be free, especially for applicants who’d registered before anyone knew the test existed. Well: as of October 2025, GMAC made it exactly that — free. Credit where it’s due. So the one tiny barrier this test used to have is now gone.
How Many People Does This Even Affect?
Less panic-worthy than it feels, is the honest answer. When the requirement first surfaced, I ran the numbers and estimated that fewer than ~200 applicants in Harvard’s entire Round 1 pool would even be affected by it (the math hinges on how many submit a GMAT Focus score without another writing assessment on file). The way the news was first announced — quietly, late, unexpectedly — maximized the “freak-out factor,” but the actual footprint is small. Watch the video above for how I got to that estimate.
Should This Change Your Test Strategy?
If you’ve already been studying for the GMAT Focus Edition: NO. Don’t change course. The possibility of MAYBE having to take an easy, free writing test is NOT a reason to throw away months of prep.
If you haven’t started studying yet: this is one more (small) reason to consider the GRE, which kept its writing section — so GRE takers don’t need the BWA at all. (For a full breakdown, read our guide: GMAT vs. GRE for MBA Admissions.)
If you took the old GMAT: you already have an AWA score. You’re fine.
The Bottom Line
The BWA is a speed bump, not a roadblock. It’s 30 minutes, it’s free, and it tests a skill you already have. The schools requiring it are just verifying that you — not an AI — can write a coherent argument under controlled conditions.
Spend your energy on the things that will ACTUALLY determine whether you get in: your essays, your interview prep, and your overall application strategy. ApplicantLab can help with all of that.
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