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Avoid Careless Mistakes on the GMAT

Unlike other errors that result in incorrect answers, careless mistakes do not typically reflect gaps in your content knowledge. Rather, careless mistakes are frequently the result of poor habits, such as:

reading questions too quickly
rushing through calculations
relying too heavily on mental math
taking sloppy and disorganized notes

Careless mistakes are debilitating and frustrating because they can cause you to miss questions that you should have answered correctly. So, if you have a tendency to make careless mistakes, correcting them will certainly result in a higher GMAT score.

Fortunately, careless mistakes are preventable and can be avoided. You should maintain focus, follow a sound strategy, and put the necessary time and effort into your work.

Become aware of your own tendency to make careless mistakes. This awareness is one of the most effective things you can do to reduce your chances of making them. If you are aware of your patterns, you can catch yourself in the act of making a mistake. In other words, you can alert yourself before you make a specific type of mistake.

Consider the following scenario: you notice a pattern of answering questions that aren’t being asked. So, you start double-checking what the question is asking before you choose your answer. You make sure, for example, that you do not answer a question about Theresa’s age when you’re asked to determine Martha’s age.

Making careless errors is quite common among test takers. , Correcting them will have a significant positive impact on your GMAT score. Your error log will assist you in understanding the types of errors that are preventing you from making significant improvements in your score. So, make a note of any instances of your getting a question wrong due to a careless mistake, as well as the nature of the mistake.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep