How should we measure a society’s success? Should it prioritize progress and power, even at the cost of individual well-being? Or is a truly successful society one that safeguards the welfare of all its citizens? In this GRE “Analyze an Issue” essay prompt, you’ll be asked to weigh these competing perspectives—and take a position of your own.
Below, you’ll find a high-scoring GRE essay example that examines both sides and presents a clear, compelling argument that prioritizing individual well-being is not only ethical, but essential for long-term societal success.
Prompt Summary
Statement: “Some believe a society must prioritize its overall success, even at the expense of its citizens’ well-being. Others argue that a society can only be judged successful if the general welfare of all people is protected.”
This prompt asks you to explore how society should define success. Is it economic and global power, or is it the happiness, health, and dignity of its people?
Example of a Perfect-Scoring GRE Essay (Score of 6)
Essay Title: A Thriving Society Begins with Its People
While it’s tempting to equate a nation’s success with GDP growth, military strength, or technological innovation, these indicators alone fail to capture the lived experiences of its people. I strongly believe that the well-being of a society must be measured by the general welfare of its citizens. Without prioritizing individual well-being, any notion of “success” is both incomplete and unsustainable.
Proponents of the first view argue that society must sometimes sacrifice individual interests for the greater good. For example, during wartime or pandemics, governments may enforce restrictions that limit personal freedoms in order to ensure survival or stability. On a broader scale, some leaders justify economic policies that benefit corporations or national development, even if they temporarily disadvantage certain communities. This approach assumes that the long-term strength of the state will eventually benefit everyone.
However, this reasoning is flawed because it treats individual well-being as expendable or secondary. A society’s long-term success is not built on the suffering of its citizens, but rather on their empowerment. Countries that rank highest on quality-of-life indexes—like Norway, Sweden, and Finland—invest heavily in public healthcare, education, and social safety nets. These nations enjoy both strong economies and high citizen satisfaction. The well-being of individuals isn’t an obstacle to societal success—it’s the foundation of it.
Moreover, prioritizing national “success” over people’s welfare can have dangerous consequences. It can lead to widespread inequality, systemic injustice, and civil unrest. For example, rapid industrial growth in certain countries has lifted GDP but also created vast income disparities and human rights abuses. These conditions erode trust in institutions, create social instability, and ultimately hinder the very progress they were meant to achieve.
True societal strength comes from inclusivity, equity, and compassion. When all individuals—regardless of background—have access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity, the entire society benefits. People are healthier, more productive, and more engaged. They contribute not only to the economy, but also to innovation, culture, and civic life. In contrast, a society that sacrifices its people for the sake of abstract “success” becomes hollow—technologically advanced, perhaps, but morally and socially fractured.
In conclusion, while economic growth and national achievements are important, they are not sufficient to define a society as successful. The well-being of a society is best measured by the well-being of its people. A society that invests in the welfare of all its citizens will not only thrive, but also endure.
Why This Essay Earns a Perfect Score
- Clear stance: The writer takes a strong, defensible position from the start.
- Balanced structure: Both sides of the argument are considered before making a persuasive case.
- Strong examples: The essay draws from real-world parallels (e.g., Nordic countries, industrial growth) to ground its reasoning.
- Logical flow: Paragraphs build on one another, with clear transitions and topic sentences.
- Effective language: The vocabulary is varied, precise, and formal—ideal for GRE writing.
Key Takeaways
- A society’s well-being should not be sacrificed in pursuit of abstract success metrics like GDP or global rank.
- Countries that prioritize social welfare often achieve both individual happiness and long-term prosperity.
- Success without equity is unsustainable—and often unstable.
Whether you’re preparing for the GRE or reflecting on how societies function today, this prompt offers a timely opportunity to engage with values that shape the world around us.
🎧 Prefer to Learn by Listening?
Check out our companion podcast episode: “What Makes a Society Truly Successful?”—available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.