The GRE is a timed exam, so it’s understandable if you feel pressure to solve questions quickly. However, when you’re just starting your GRE Quant preparation, focusing on speed is not the best approach. Instead, your primary goal should be to answer questions accurately and to develop a deep, clear understanding of the material.

Rushing through problems early in your prep often leads to common pitfalls—careless mistakes, scattered thinking, and diminished focus. When you push your brain to process information faster than it’s ready for, errors are almost inevitable. Instead of getting caught in this trap, take a step back and give yourself the time to fully grasp the concepts, methodologies, and logic behind each problem.

During the initial stages of your GRE prep, allow yourself to work at a slower, more deliberate pace. Use this time to carefully analyze problems and master the underlying principles. Think of this phase as building the foundation of a house: the more solid and stable the base, the stronger and more reliable the structure will be. Similarly, a well-grounded understanding of the material will allow you to tackle more complex problems with confidence and ease as your prep progresses.

As you consistently practice and strengthen your skills, something remarkable will happen—your speed will naturally improve. With increased accuracy and confidence, you’ll start recognizing patterns, applying techniques more efficiently, and solving problems with less hesitation. This organic development of speed is far more reliable than forcing yourself to rush through questions prematurely.

It’s important to remember that mastery takes time, and your early focus should be on quality over speed. By honing your problem-solving skills and building a solid knowledge base, you’ll set yourself up to succeed under the timed conditions of the GRE.

So, don’t worry about racing against the clock when you’re starting out. Prioritize accuracy and understanding. With persistence and practice, speed will follow naturally, ensuring you’re fully prepared to ace the Quant section on test day.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep