Time management is one of the most overlooked yet decisive factors in GRE Quant performance. Even strong problem-solvers often struggle to balance accuracy with pace. The reality is that you may not have the time or ability to solve every problem completely, but an effective approach to timing can ensure that you still capture as many points as possible.

A sound GRE Quant timing strategy is to answer every question as you encounter it. Even when you are uncertain about the right answer, resist the urge to skip or leave a question blank. Skipping might feel like a smart move in the moment, but it creates unnecessary risk. If you leave several questions unanswered with the intention of returning later and then run out of time, you have effectively guaranteed yourself zero points on those items. In contrast, by making an educated—or even random—guess, you at least keep the door open for additional points.

This approach is especially effective because of how the GRE is scored. Since there is no penalty for incorrect answers, there is no downside to guessing. Every unanswered question, however, is a guaranteed miss. By ensuring that you select an answer for every question before time expires, you are maximizing your scoring potential within the time you have.

Equally important, this strategy allows you to manage your focus and energy efficiently. When you guess and mark a question for review, you maintain forward momentum. You do not get stuck on a single challenging problem that drains valuable minutes. Instead, you stay in control of the pacing of your section, ensuring that easy and medium questions—where you can confidently earn points—do not get lost at the end due to poor time allocation.

If you do finish the section with a few minutes to spare, your earlier guesses will have set you up for a smarter review. You will already have seen every question, made an initial judgment, and flagged the ones that truly deserve a second look. This means you will not have to reacquaint yourself with new material under pressure. Instead, you can focus your remaining time on the handful of problems where an extra minute could make a meaningful difference.

Another key benefit of this method is psychological. By maintaining progress throughout the section, you reduce the stress and panic that come from watching the clock while unanswered questions pile up. Even when a problem feels uncertain, marking an answer and moving forward helps you preserve confidence and composure. When you eventually revisit a flagged question, you are doing so from a more stable mindset and with a clearer sense of where your time is best spent.

Ultimately, your goal on test day is not perfection—it is optimization. The GRE rewards strategic thinking as much as content mastery. So even when time is tight, remember this simple sequence: answer, mark, and move. That is how you stay in control of your time, maximize your opportunities for points, and avoid the costly scenario of leaving answers blank.

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

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep