Careless errors can seriously damage your GRE Quant score. Obviously, they lead to wrong answers, but their impact goes beyond that. They also consume valuable time during the test. For example, if you notice your answer doesn’t match any of the choices, it usually means a careless mistake. You then have to recalculate or even start the problem over, which eats into the time you could spend answering other questions correctly. In some cases, you might not have enough time to fix the error, forcing you to guess and move on. Improving your accuracy can easily add five or more points to your GRE Quant score.

One effective way to avoid careless mistakes is to slow down and work carefully. Rushing often leads to silly or sloppy errors. Of course, you need to maintain a reasonable pace to finish each section on time, but there’s a difference between working efficiently and rushing through calculations. Developing a balance between speed and accuracy is key.

Another helpful step is to become aware of your specific error patterns. Do you often make mistakes when adding or subtracting? Do you forget to answer the exact question being asked? Do you sometimes get excited after solving the toughest part of a problem and then mess up the final step? Knowing your common pitfalls allows you to catch these errors before they happen.

Lastly, what seem like careless errors might actually point to gaps in your understanding of certain question types. It’s easy to read an explanation and think, “Of course, I should have multiplied instead of divided.” But digging deeper and asking why you chose the wrong operation can uncover real weaknesses. If you identify such gaps, it’s a sign you should spend more time on focused topic-based study to strengthen your foundational knowledge. Addressing these issues will reduce careless mistakes and help you approach questions with confidence.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GRE prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep