Why Does Harvard Business School Require the GMAT Business Writing Assessment?
- 18 hours ago
- 7 min read
When the GMAT Focus edition rolled out in early 2024, business schools updated their admissions requirements to match its format. But the Focus version of the GMAT does not include a writing section. For schools like Harvard Business School, which places high value on clear thinking and persuasive communication in line with their case method teaching, this was a gap.
So, HBS collaborated with the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) to develop the GMAC Business Writing Assessment (BWA). Rolled out as an additional requirement for GMAT Focus applicants, the BWA exists to give admissions committees a direct window into how candidates think and write without any assistance from AI tools or other aids.
What Is the GMAC Business Writing Assessment?
The Business Writing Assessment is a 30-minute, online, proctored writing test developed by GMAC. Its purpose is to measure a candidate's ability to communicate complex ideas in writing clearly, analytically, and in standard English: skills that traditional application components such as transcripts, resumes, or recommendation letters don’t always reveal.
HBS was explicit about why the tool matters. The school describes the assessment as a way to directly observe a candidate's unaided writing and reasoning abilities, using the results as one data point alongside all other application components. The emphasis on "unaided" is deliberate: with generative AI now capable of producing polished prose on demand, admissions committees need a verified, real-time sample of how applicants actually write under time pressure.
HBS also made clear that applicants who submit GRE scores, which include a writing component, are not required to complete the BWA separately. The assessment is specifically designed to close the gap for GMAT Focus test-takers.
This also means that the GMAT Focus pathway is approximately 47 minutes longer overall when the BWA is factored in.
Note: There is no minimum score threshold for the Business Writing Assessment at HBS. Admissions committees evaluate it holistically, in the context of the full application.
Who Needs to Complete the GMAC Business Writing Assessment?
You need to complete the GMAC Business Writing Assessment if you are applying to HBS and submitting a GMAT Focus Edition score. Other English-language proficiency tests such as TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, or Duolingo will satisfy the writing assessment requirement for candidates who did not study at an institution where English was the sole language of instruction.
The HBS Business Writing Assessment Format
You will be presented with a short argument (typically a few sentences drawn from a fictional article, report, or memo) and asked to write a critical analysis of it. Your job is not to agree or disagree with the argument based on your personal opinion. Instead, you are asked to evaluate the quality of the reasoning: Does the argument rely on questionable assumptions? Are there alternative explanations the author has ignored? What evidence would strengthen or weaken the conclusion?
Time and Format
Duration: 30 minutes
Format: Online, written response
Tools available: Physical whiteboard or an online notepad within the platform
Topic domain: Business, general interest, or a mix. No specific prior knowledge required
Scoring
Scale: 0 to 6, in one-point increments
Scoring method: Standardized rubric
Results timeline: 3 - 5 business days after completing the test
Score delivery: Results can be sent to participating schools at no cost
Rescore option: Available upon request, for a fee
Minimum score: None required at HBS
What Is Being Assessed?
According to GMAC, the Business Writing Assessment is designed to evaluate four core competencies:
Writing in a structured and organized way
Analyzing and presenting evidence through written communication
Using reason and logic in an argument
Expressing ideas clearly and concisely in English
Put simply, the test does not care whether you know anything about the specific industry being discussed. It could range from aviation safety to agricultural economics, to healthcare policy. What the test DOES care about is whether you can read an argument, spot its weaknesses, organize your thoughts, and communicate a coherent critique in 30 minutes.
More specifically, your response is evaluated on four dimensions:
The overall quality of your ideas and critique
Your ability to organize and express those ideas
The relevance and quality of the supporting reasons and examples you provide
Your standard written English skills
Examples of GMAT Business Writing Assessment Questions
Example 1: Over time, the costs of processing go down because as organizations learn how to do things better, they become more efficient. In color film processing, for example, the cost of a 3-by-5-inch print fell from 50 cents for five-day service in 1970 to 20 cents for one-day service in 1984. The same principle applies to the processing of food. And since Olympic Foods will soon celebrate its 25th birthday, we can expect that our long experience will enable us to minimize costs and thus maximize profits.
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
Example 2: The falling revenues that the company is experiencing coincide with delays in manufacturing. These delays, in turn, are due in large part to poor planning in purchasing metals. Consider further that the manager of the department that handles purchasing of raw materials has an excellent background in general business, psychology, and sociology, but knows little about the properties of metals. The company should, therefore, move the purchasing manager to the sales department and bring in a scientist from the research division to be manager of the purchasing department.
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
What a Strong Business Writing Assessment Answer Contains
1. A Compelling Opening Argument
In a high-scoring response, you would first establish a clear analytical frame. Identify the central problem with the argument, or the overarching logical flaw that the rest of the essay will develop.
Think of this as your thesis. It should tell the reader: "This argument fails because of X, and the following discussion will show why." A vague opener like "This argument has several flaws" earns far less credit than one that names the specific nature of those flaws upfront.
2. Distinct Points of Critique
A strong response identifies several separate logical weaknesses in the argument. Don’t just repeat one point over and over!
Some examples of credible weaknesses:
You assumed something about the problem that hasn’t been properly questioned or tested.
You didn’t consider how people might react to or interact with the proposed solution.
You designed a solution that doesn’t match the actual size or scope of the problem.
You failed to consider what happens when the proposed mechanism fails or is misused
A poor response may identify one valid flaw and then circle back to similar observations repeatedly. Show that you have range.
3. Counter-examples
One of the biggest differences between an average and top-scoring response is the depth of development. An average response might simply state that the argument “doesn't account for human error”, for example. A better response would actually develop that idea by walking through a scenario where human error occurs and explain specifically how it weakens the argument.
Don’t just invent worst-case scenarios, though. The counterexamples need to be realistic. In any case, remember that the quality of your reasoning matters far more than the quantity of points you raise.
4. Engage with Evidence and Assumptions
The task asks you to analyze the reasoning and use of evidence in the argument. This means your response should actively ask: what does the argument assume without proving? What evidence would need to exist for the conclusion to hold? What alternative explanations has the author ignored?
A strong response does not simply say "the argument lacks evidence." It identifies the specific assumption that is being made and explains it. Don’t stay too general.
5. Suggestions for What Would Strengthen the Argument
While not mandatory, great responses often briefly address what the argument would need in order to be more convincing. This demonstrates that you understand not only what is wrong with the current reasoning, but what good reasoning in this domain would look like. It signals mature analytical thinking.
6. Narrative Prose
Your response must read as a coherent essay, not a bulleted list of observations. The official guidance is clear: the response should use a coherent organizational scheme, logical transitions between points, and appropriately introduced and developed examples. It’s also good practice to vary your sentence structure. Don’t be mechanical.
Remember that you do not need to write perfectly under time pressure. Minor errors are okay! What matters is that your response should not suggest a basic lack of fluency. Grammatical errors, sentence fragments, and unclear phrasing will be marked against you.
This also explains why the BWA works well for distinguishing human writing from AI-generated text. AdComs know what unassisted, unpolished writing looks like.
How to Write the Business Writing Assessment
Given that you have exactly 30 minutes, time management is critical. Here's a recommended structure:
Minutes 1 - 4: Read and Plan
Read the argument carefully and use the notepad or whiteboard to jot down 3-4 distinct critique points. Identify the argument's core conclusion, the evidence or mechanism it relies on, and the key assumptions it makes without support. Decide on the order in which you will present your points. Ideally, lead with the most significant flaw.
Minutes 5 - 24: Write
Write your response in full paragraphs. Aim for 4-5 paragraphs: an introduction that states your overall assessment, 2-3 body paragraphs each developing a critique point with explanation and examples, and a brief conclusion. Don’t rush past your examples.
Minutes 25 - 30: Revise
Read your response again. Check for grammatical errors, missing transitions, and any unexplained points. The most common error is spending too long writing and leaving no time to revise.
How HBS Uses the Business Writing Assessment Score
HBS has stated clearly that there is no minimum score threshold for the Business Writing Assessment. The admissions committee evaluates the score in context alongside your GPA, GMAT Focus score, essays, recommendations, and the rest of your application.
This does not mean the score is unimportant. For applicants whose written communication skills are otherwise difficult to assess (for example, those from non-English-speaking educational backgrounds), the BWA may carry more weight than it would for a native English-speaking applicant with a strong undergraduate writing record.
In practice, a very low score (2 or below) is likely to raise concerns, while a score of 5 or 6 will reinforce positive impressions from the rest of the application. A 4 is unlikely to derail a strong candidacy, but also unlikely to distinguish you positively.
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