While prepping for the GRE (and while taking the actual test), you should not automatically default to using the GRE on-screen calculator. The reason you shouldn’t over-rely on the calculator is that some processes, questions, and calculations can be completed more quickly using your pencil and scratch paper than using the on-screen calculator.

To determine which types of questions and calculations you can do faster by hand than by using the on-screen calculator, practice using both when you’re studying. By using both the on-screen calculator and working the math by hand on scratch paper, you’ll be able to determine what processes are faster for you to do using the calculator and what steps are more efficiently done by hand. This knowledge will be powerful come test day.

For example, maybe you find that it’s much faster for you to calculate decimals and percentages using the calculator. That’s powerful information, because when you encounter GRE quant questions involving decimals and percents, you’ll be sure to use the on-screen calculator to help you quickly solve these problems. However, perhaps you determine that you save a bunch of time by working complex fractions by hand. That’s additional powerful information!

Some processes, questions, and calculations can be completed more quickly using your pencil and scratch paper than using the on-screen calculator. By knowing in advance which types of quant questions and which processes you’re able to solve more quickly using the on-screen calculator, you’ll be able to maximize your time on test day.