Students often avoid the GRE Quant question types that give them the most trouble. It is an understandable instinct. When a topic feels slow, confusing, or mentally draining, it is tempting to set it aside and focus on the areas where you feel more comfortable. The problem is that this habit prevents real improvement from taking place. The questions you avoid today are often the same ones that will limit your score on test day.

One of the most reliable ways to increase your Quant score is to identify the question types you least want to encounter and deliberately make them a central part of your study plan. When you turn those uncomfortable topics into strengths, you shift the entire direction of your prep. Instead of hoping these questions will not show up, you may eventually feel prepared and confident enough to welcome them. This shift alone can make a meaningful difference in both your accuracy and your mindset.

Working directly on your weak areas produces gains in several ways. First, you increase your accuracy on the very questions that once held you back. Second, you reduce the time you spend struggling when these topics appear. That efficiency gives you more time to devote to other questions, such as those that involve multi-step calculations or more involved reasoning. In other words, improving one weak area strengthens your overall section performance.

This approach also builds resilience. The GRE is designed to test depth, not comfort. When you are willing to engage with the parts of Quant that challenge you, you not only build skill but also develop the mental steadiness needed for a high score. Over time, you create a more complete and reliable Quant foundation. You close knowledge gaps, boost your confidence, and put yourself in a stronger position for test day.

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

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep