From time to time, I will work with a student who knows the material tested on the GRE well yet continues to answer questions incorrectly. An analysis of the errors often reveals that he either made a silly mistake or put himself through a quagmire of tortured calculations that led to an incorrect answer.

In my eyes, careless errors are the worst mistakes a student can make for two big reasons: First, it’s a shame not to get credit for a GRE question that you know how to solve and should answer correctly. Second, careless mistakes are usually avoidable. They can be drastically reduced or even eliminated with focus, proper strategy, and practice.

In general, humans probably are becoming more careless at a time when accuracy is of greatest importance. This increasing slackening is happening for a number of reasons. The good news is that each reason comes with a solid solution.

We will review common reasons for committing mindless mistakes on the GRE and the steps you can take to avoid them.

👉 Problem #1: You’re not reading carefully
💡 Solution: Become a careful, active, and engaged reader

Strong reading skills will help you significantly on all sections of the GRE — yes, including the Quantitative sections. Strive to read everything carefully and methodically. Focus when you read. Make sure that you understand the main point of each sentence and the key concepts in each problem. It’s not unusual to need to reread math and verbal questions. If you don’t fully understand what you just read, read it again. While rereading may seem to take up valuable GRE time, it makes more sense than not understanding and getting all of the related questions wrong.

Visualization can help you to read more carefully. When you read, imagine that what you are reading is unfolding as if you were watching a movie. Picture what you read. This visualization process will help your brain better assimilate and connect the information.

👉 Problem #2: Your writing is messy
💡 Solution: Write neatly and legibly

It’s easy to make reckless mistakes when your own writing is illegible. For example, if your numeral 2 has a funny habit of morphing into the letter Z, you’re likely to make mistakes. As someone with shockingly poor handwriting, I’ve found that writing in capital letters makes me less prone to misreading my own handwriting. You may like this penmanship strategy as well.

In addition to writing neatly, it’s important to organize your work thoughtfully. Get in the habit of using well-defined regions of the scratch paper for each problem. Don’t spread your work across the page haphazardly.

In regard to scratch paper: At your GRE testing site, test administrators will provide you with an initial supply of scratch paper. During the test, make efficient use of each sheet. You can obtain additional scratch paper, but you will waste valuable test time while you’re getting the re-supply.

👉 Problem #3: You make errors in basic arithmetic
💡 Solution: Regularly practice multiplication and division by hand

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen students elegantly power through a tough math problem, only to make a multiplication or division error. Don’t be this person. Each day, solve one or two ugly multiplication and division problems by hand. Don’t think that the online GRE calculator absolves you of the need to do routine arithmetic; it is unwieldy and time-consuming to use. You are also just as likely to make a mistake punching in numbers as you are writing them out longhand. But if you practice longhand frequently, you become more familiar with relationships among numbers and what reasonable answers look like. Therefore, you are more likely to catch your own mistakes than you would be if you just mindlessly entered calculations into a calculator and didn’t have to think about what you were doing. Save the calculator for difficult calculations that you can’t do with pen and paper.

👉 Problem #4: You answer the wrong question
💡 Solution: Double check whether you’re answering the question, before you select an answer

Read carefully and double check what you’ve read, before choosing an answer. Imagine a complicated word problem involving two Shiba Inus, Blaze and Molly. What if you carefully and elegantly solve for Molly’s age, which, not coincidentally, is also an answer choice, but the question is actually asking for Blaze’s age? Assure you’re actually answering the question being asked.

The GRE also presents “select all that apply” questions, in which you are to choose one or more of the answer choices. Make note that this type of question might have multiple correct answers, and that you have to check each answer choice before moving to the next question. The GRE reminds you of a “select all that apply” question by putting square boxes (instead of ovals) in front of each answer choice.

👉 Problem #5: You’re rushing
💡 Solution: Slow down

Time is a luxury that most GRE test takers don’t have. Between submitting to a demanding job or going to school, working on applications, volunteering, and spending time with family, your week can disappear in a flash.

Unfortunately, these constraints can cause students to rush through their GRE studying, just to log some studying time. This rushing results in careless mistakes. When you try to calculate faster than your brain can process, you will undoubtedly make mistakes.

To greatly reduce careless errors, go slowly. Take your time. Focus. It makes little sense to spend an hour rushing through 20 questions, only to get 10 of them wrong. Instead, work at the fastest pace you can, while approaching the problems effectively. Focus carefully on each problem. Remember, the goal is to learn and understand, not to race through a bunch of problems.

👉 Problem #6: You’re overtired, overworked or both
💡 Solution: Reprioritize

Sloppy calculations and decreased accuracy can occur from lack of sleep or an overworked mind. As mentioned earlier, with the busy lives we live, studying for the GRE can sometimes take a back seat to other tasks. For example, how accurate can you be after getting four hours of sleep, running five miles, working 10 hours, and then sitting down at 9 p.m. for GRE study?

The importance of restful sleep cannot be overstated. If you’re too tired to study, consider getting more sleep. Not only is adequate sleep instrumental in maintaining good health, but also it’s vital for learning. If you want to maximize GRE study time and reduce careless errors, study and practice when you are well rested. If you can’t seem to get enough sleep, you may need to reprioritize your time.

If you’re overworked when study time comes around, consider changing your schedule. Some of my busiest students have found success in studying for two hours each weekday morning before work, allowing them to make GRE focus a priority. Of course, this can force an earlier bedtime. Also, use your weekend time to do some serious studying. Get up on Saturday, go for a run or do some yoga, and eat a healthy breakfast. Then, devote three or four hours to GRE prep when you are fresh.

Don’t let careless errors hold you back from a good GRE score — or better yet, a great one. Implement these simple tips, and watch your accuracy increase.

Reach out to me with any questions or concerns. Happy studying!

Warm regards,
Scott