Success on the GRE depends heavily on your ability to stay mentally present while solving questions. Even brief moments of lost focus can lead to avoidable errors. Two common focus-related problems tend to hurt accuracy the most.

The first is mental distraction. Sometimes, your attention drifts away from the problem in front of you. You might be thinking about a stressful day at work, an upcoming commitment, or replaying how you handled a previous question. Although these thoughts may seem minor, they divide your attention. When your mind is split, precision suffers.

A powerful way to combat this is through compartmentalization. This means intentionally setting aside everything except the question you are currently solving. The goal is to train yourself to stay anchored in the present moment. When your full attention is on one problem at a time, your thinking becomes clearer and your accuracy naturally improves.

The second issue involves a disconnect between your thoughts and your execution. Even when you are focused, problems can arise if your mind moves faster than your work. For example, you might already be thinking about the next step while your hand is still writing the previous one. While this habit is common, it often results in small but costly mistakes. Any misalignment between your thinking, your eyes, and your writing increases the chance of error.

The fix is simple but requires discipline: slow down. Give complete attention to the step you are actively performing. Be intentional as you write each number, symbol, or variable. When your pen, eyes, and thoughts move together, your process becomes cleaner and more reliable. This level of care can be the difference between losing points unnecessarily and earning them confidently.

Ultimately, doing well on the GRE is not just about mastering concepts and strategies. It also requires controlling distractions and keeping your mental process aligned with your actions. Developing these skills leads to greater consistency and accuracy throughout the exam.

If you have questions about your GRE preparation, feel free to reach out. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep