考研作文的最主要的特点就是以议论为主。其实，考试作文是最容易写的一种作文形式（这不包括英语专业考试的作文），它不要求写得很有文采，它最追求的就是要写得脉络清晰，富有条理。考试作文的指针就是：取悦阅卷者，充分考虑阅卷者的心理。为了达到这个目的。建议考研作文采取格式作文的形式
采取四段式来写作文，第一段阐明主旨，二、三段分别叙述，最后一段再进行总结。每一段的起始句很重要，建议第一段的起始句采取长句的形式，而后面的段落的起始句用一些特定的显示层次的词和词组来修饰也很重要。如“first，second，third”“first of all，secondly，in the final analysis”等等，这样能使段与段之间的联系更加紧密。对于进行详细阐述的二、三段，建议每一段举上一两个实例，以避免给阅卷者言之无物的印象。另外，二三段的每一段的结尾应该对该段的中心思想再进行一个简要的概括，分别用一个句子即可，这样做的好处就是使阅卷者对你文章的条理性有一个更深刻的认识。最后一段照应第一段，再进行一个大意上的概括，当然，应该用另外一种语句，并在中心思想的基础上做一定的拓展。
以下是套用这个格式理论写的一篇“加入世贸组织对中国的影响”文章。
The impacts of China's entry into the world trade organization
After years of bitter struggles and numerous negations, China, the economy of which is one of the world's biggest,eventually became a formal member of the world trade organization——the largest organization that coordinates trade and business operations among its member states. As a matter of course, China's entry into the TWO brought with it challenges as well as opportunities.
First of all, China is to enjoy the benefits that the organization provides us. Lower tariffs and tax rates and fewer trade barriers will facilitate our swift and efficient imports and exports and other trade activities. According to the trade clauses of the WTO, the European union shall cut down the tax rates it imposes on our exported textile products, thus availing the arts-and-crafts companies in our country to extract more profits from the business. In a sense,the WTO means opportunity, and it sets the stage for our business to cut a brilliant figure in the international economic circles.
Secondly, China's national economy is set to be faced with fierce competition from the outside world. WTO pursues a relatively equal and free business environment for all its members, which poses a major challenge for our economy…… Such monopolous business sectors used to enjoy protections from governments of all levels as telecommunications and banking will find themselves no longer be in a safe box. They have to adjust or replace their current operative and marketing strategies to cope with the outdooors shrewd and talented completers, or they will suffer big losses and tough time is awaiting them. We should brace for the challenges so as to take the initiative when competition is close at hand.
In the final analysis, abundant opportunities and stiff challenges goes hand in hand with each other along with China's entry in the WTO…… We should make good use of the chances and meanwhile suitably deal with the outside competition, All our efforts are to upgrade our business scales and get more integrated into the international business community.
