GRE Mistakes That Can Cost You Points

I. Ignoring the GRE Format and Structure

Familiarising yourself with the structure of the GRE exam is very important for your success and to avoid negative scores. Each section (analytical writing, GRE quant and verbal reasoning) has specific question types and pacing requirements. If you don’t acquaint yourself with the GRE’s format before taking the test, you might get confused by the types of GRE questions being asked and the answer choices, or unintentionally mismanage your time, thus feeling a lot of stress when the moment of GRE day arrives. If you’re familiar with the GRE’s format before you take it, you’ll feel more confident when test day arrives! To learn more about the GRE, click here:  What Is the GRE and Why It Matters for Grad School.

II. Focusing Too Much on One Section

One of the most common GRE mistakes students make is focusing more on either quantitative reasoning or verbal reasoning during GRE preparation, either because they are more comfortable with one of these sections or because they feel one particular section is more difficult and requires additional attention. Be careful! If you over-prepare for one subject during GRE prep and neglect the others, you risk losing points and lowering your score. Well-rounded prep ensures you maintain your areas of strength while also improving upon weaker areas. 

III. Not Practicing Under Real Test Conditions

A big mistake many test takers make is not taking full practice exams under timed conditions. The GRE is an important test and high-pressure process, so use timed practice tests to build up your pacing, endurance, and focus. If you don’t incorporate timed, full-length practice GRE tests into your prep, you won’t know how to pace yourself when you take the test and may rush or run out of time. To decide where to take the GRE, click here: GRE at Home vs Test Center: Pros and Cons.

IV. Mismanaging Time During the Exam

Not managing time properly is one of the common mistakes made by GRE students. When you track your time, you may rush, fail to avoid silly mistakes, or choose the wrong answers; alternatively, you might run out of time, leaving questions unanswered. The following outlines a pacing plan for the exam:

Verbal Reasoning: 

• 1.5 minutes solving each reading comprehension, sentence equivalence and text completion question
•  If a question takes more than 2 minutes, guess and move on. 

Quantitative Reasoning: 

• 1.75 minutes per question. 
• Avoid using calculator for basic math
• Answer easier questions first and flag those that are difficult to return to later. 

Analytical Writing (essay):

• 2 - 3 minutes to outline 
• 18 - 20 to write 
• 2 - 3 minutes to proofread 

V. Overusing the Calculator in Quant Section

The calculator is certainly a helpful tool when completing GRE math, but using it too much can slow you down and even cause you to make careless mistakes, because you might enter the wrong numbers or make errors when rounding decimals, impacting your test performance. For maximum efficiency, use the calculator for complex arithmetic, not simple equations; ensure you have entered the correct values into the calculator to make sure you have the correct answer and improve your quant score. Break multi-step calculations into smaller steps to avoid entering numbers incorrectly. Click here to learn more about the GRE and calculator use: Can You Use a Calculator on the GRE?

VI. Neglecting Vocabulary and Context in Verbal Reasoning

Many students memorize GRE vocabulary words without understanding how words function in context. This is one of the most common GRE mistakes. In GRE verbal reasoning, if an answer seems right but doesn’t match the author’s tone or is at odds with surrounding clues or sentence structure, it is probably incorrect. To improve your understanding of vocabulary in context, consider the following:

• Study vocabulary words in sentences
• Read high-quality academic materials to view vocabulary words in context 
• When studying, look for context clues in practice questions. These include words hinting at tone (e.g., “amazingly”) or contrast words that shift the sentence’s direction (e.g., “however”) and will help you arrive at the correct answer. To strengthen your reading compression skills, click here: How to Improve Reading Comprehension for the GRE. 

VII. Skipping Essay Practice for Analytical Writing

Many students undervalue the GRE analytical writing section, assuming it’s not very important because it consists of a single essay on the shortened GRE. Don’t fall for this! If you don’t prepare, your essay may be disorganized with grammatical mistakes. Structured practice during test prep helps you to build a strong, coherent argument:

• Practice structuring your essay with an intro, thesis, 2 - 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion
• Study sample essays from individuals who have scored high on GRE essays to determine what is required
• Write timed practiced essays to simulate test day conditions 
• Review your practice essays for common grammatical errors.

VIII. Panicking Over Difficult Questions

If you panic and feel anxious when encountering difficult GRE questions, you are not alone. Many students experience this and it can lead to overthinking. Anxiety can cost you time, interrupting your focus on test day and leading to potential score loss; the best thing to do when you come across a question you find very difficult is to flag it and return to it later, after you have finished solving other questions in the same section. This will give you the time to answer questions you feel more confident about.

IX. Not Reviewing Mistakes After Practice Tests

One GRE mistake students make is taking practice tests and simply moving on when finished, without checking the reasons for their errors. However, reviewing the reasons why you made a mistake is an extremely useful way to improve your GRE score, because it assists you in targeting weak areas, and, over time, it helps you to determine what mistakes you keep making and those you have improved upon. Using this information, you can modify your study plan to ensure you cover areas of difficulty.

X. Relying on Poor-Quality GRE Materials

Not all study materials for the GRE are equal. Old test books and outdated websites may offer resources designed for the old GRE, not the shortened version introduced in 2023, meaning they are no longer relevant. Using the wrong materials may leave you unprepared come test day. Examples of high-quality and updated GRE material for studying include the resources provided by Target Test Prep, GRE Booster’s practice questions and study plans, and the official study materials from the Educational Testing Service.

XI. Bonus: Common GRE Mistakes by Section

XII. How to Avoid These Common GRE Mistakes

You can avoid many of the GRE mistakes mentioned in this article by implementing these actionable strategies:

Create a consistent study schedule:

Create a realistic study schedule (e.g., 90 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 3 months after GRE registration). Focus on all areas of the exam during studying. Don’t neglect a specific section because you believe another is more important. Use high-quality study materials updated to the most recent version of the GRE for accuracy.

Take timed, full-length practice tests: 

Take full-length practice tests during GRE prep to mimic the exact timing and format of the real test. This will help you to build stamina and improve your pacing; familiarize yourself with the GRE question types and what each type of question asks so you are not confused on test day. 

Manage your time:

Don’t over-rely on the calculator during GRE math, and skip questions to return to if they are too difficult. Bring scratch paper for problems that are quicker to figure out by hand. Follow a pacing plan to ensure you have enough time for each section of the test. 

XIII. FAQ

Q: How many times can I retake the GRE if I make mistakes?

A: You can retake the GRE every 21 days, at a maximum of 5 times per every 12-month period. 

Q: How can I improve my GRE timing and avoid rushing?

A: Practice taking full-length and timed mock GREs multiple times each week during GRE prep to adapt to taking the GRE within its specified time limits. Create a pacing plan where you allocate time allowed for each section and question type over the course of the GRE. When you encounter a difficult question, save time by flagging it to return to after answering other questions in the section. 

Q: Are GRE mistakes more common in Quant or Verbal?

A: This depends on the individual student. Most students who choose wrong answers in the quant section do so because they make errors with the calculator or they mismanage their time. In the verbal section, people select wrong answer choices by misreading the question stem or because of gaps in their GRE vocabulary knowledge. 

Q: What’s the best way to review GRE errors effectively?

A: The best way to check errors is not just checking what answers you got wrong, but why they are wrong. This will help you to isolate areas you are having difficulty in and adjust your study plan, adding in more practice questions in your specific areas of difficulty to address these issues. 

Q: Can skipping a question hurt my GRE score?

A: Skipping questions is not necessarily a negative tactic if you are stuck on certain concepts. Skipping hard questions gives you time to answer questions that you find easier, and these easier questions can increase your score.