# GRE Analyze an Issue Essay: Structure and Example | topin GRE guidesAnalyze an Issue Where The first section of the GRE, before Verbal and Quant Time 30 minutes for one essay Prompt A statement plus one instruction on how to respond to it Score 0–6 in half-point steps, reported separately Tools A basic word processor, no spell-check ## How it works The prompt is a short claim on a broad topic, followed by an instruction. The instruction changes what a complete answer looks like: you may be asked to discuss when the claim would or would not hold, to address the most compelling objections, or to weigh the consequences of a recommendation. The essay is read as a whole for the clarity of your position, how well you develop it, how logically it flows and how precisely you write. ## Worked example Statement: Governments should spend more on protecting their country's historic buildings than on building new public spaces. Instruction: Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement, and explain your reasoning. In developing and supporting your position, consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true, and explain how these considerations shape your position. Plan the essay: write a thesis and an outline for the body paragraphs. Show the answer Thesis: Historic buildings deserve protection, but a blanket rule that ranks them above new public spaces is too rigid; the better test is which spending serves more people now and in the future. Body 1: Where the statement holds. Irreplaceable landmarks cannot be rebuilt once lost, and they draw visitors and anchor local identity, so neglect has a permanent cost. Body 2: Where it fails. Fast-growing cities with few parks, libraries or squares need new space for residents who have none, and a historic building few people can use may deliver less public value than a well-used new park. Body 3: How to decide. Weigh each project by how many people it serves and whether the loss would be reversible; restoring a landmark and building a park are often both possible when priorities are set case by case. Conclusion: Agree that heritage matters, reject the fixed ranking, and restate the case-by-case test. The thesis takes a clear but qualified position, which the instruction invites by asking when the statement might or might not hold. Body 1 and Body 2 answer that part of the instruction directly, and Body 3 shows how those considerations shape the position, which is the last thing the instruction asks for. Each paragraph has one job and a concrete reason, which is what raters reward over length or vocabulary. ## A method for Analyze an Issue 1. 1 ### Read the instruction twice (1 minute) Underline what the instruction asks you to do, not just what the statement says. An essay that argues well but ignores the instruction cannot score at the top. 2. 2 ### Pick a qualified position (2 minutes) Decide where you stand and under what conditions. Agreeing in some cases and not others is usually easier to support convincingly than agreeing or disagreeing completely. 3. 3 ### Outline three body points (3 minutes) Write one line per paragraph: the reason, then the example you will use. Specific examples from history, science, business or everyday life beat vague claims. 4. 4 ### Write in four or five paragraphs (20 minutes) Open with the thesis, give each body paragraph one reason developed with an example, and link each paragraph back to the instruction. Keep sentences clear rather than ornate. 5. 5 ### Leave time to proofread (3–4 minutes) There is no spell-check, so reread for missing words, wrong word forms and sentences that changed direction halfway through. ## Traps to avoid * Answering the statement but not the instruction, for example never addressing when the claim fails when the instruction asks for it. * Arguing both sides equally and never committing to a position. * Listing many thin reasons instead of developing two or three properly. * Spending so long on the introduction that the last body paragraph is rushed or missing. * Relying on a memorised template that doesn't fit the particular instruction. ## Analyze an Issue FAQs What kinds of instructions come with GRE Issue prompts? There is a small set of instruction types. Some ask how far you agree and when the statement might not hold, some ask you to address the most compelling objections, and some ask you to consider the consequences of a policy or the arguments on both sides of a debate. Always check which one you have. How many paragraphs should a GRE Issue essay have? Four or five works well: an introduction with your thesis, two or three body paragraphs with one reason each, and a short conclusion. What matters is that each paragraph develops its point. Can I use personal examples in the Issue essay? Yes, if they are relevant and specific. Examples from history, science, current affairs or your own experience all work, as long as each one clearly supports your reasoning. Should I use a template for the GRE essay? A simple structure helps you write quickly, but a rigid template tends to ignore the specific instruction. Keep the structure flexible and shape each paragraph around what the prompt asks. ## Try Analyze an Issue under real timing Your first full-length GRE mock is free, with every section included. [Take the free mock ](/gre/login)