In everyday life, very few of us calculate anything by hand anymore. Phones, spreadsheets, and apps do the math instantly, so our brains rarely get real arithmetic reps. Because of this, many students start GRE preparation with calculation skills that are slower, shakier, or less reliable than they realize. When calculators do all the work for you, even basic arithmetic can become a hidden weakness.

That weakness tends to surface quickly on the GRE Quant section. You might clearly understand the concept behind a problem, choose the correct strategy, and set everything up perfectly, only to lose the point because of a small numerical slip. These errors are surprisingly common. A missed negative sign, a misplaced decimal, or a minor fraction mistake can derail an otherwise solid solution. On a test that values precision, even tiny calculation errors can quietly chip away at your score.

The most effective way to reduce these mistakes is to deliberately practice doing math by hand. Use pen and paper regularly, exactly as you will on test day. Rebuild comfort with core arithmetic skills such as working with fractions, performing basic operations, handling exponents and square roots, and calculating percentages and ratios. These fundamentals appear constantly in GRE Quant, and fluency with them helps you work faster and more accurately.

This does not require a major time commitment. Just 10 to 15 minutes of focused, calculator free practice can produce noticeable improvement. Try a small set of arithmetic drills and then review your work carefully. Pay attention to how errors happen. Are you overlooking negative signs? Rushing through multiplication? Misaligning numbers in longer calculations? Identifying patterns in your mistakes is what turns practice into real progress.

With consistency, you will feel the shift. Calculations that once felt tedious or uncertain will become more automatic. Your confidence will increase, your pace will improve, and your mental energy can stay focused on reasoning through the problem rather than doubting your math.

Ultimately, mastering GRE Quant is not just about knowing what to do. It is about carrying out your plan cleanly from start to finish. Strong hand calculation skills close that gap and help ensure that correct thinking leads to correct answers on test day.

If you have questions about GRE prep, feel free to reach out. Happy studying.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep