Many GMAT students gravitate toward practicing the types of Quant questions they already feel confident about. It’s natural. Solving problems you’re good at feels more productive and a lot less frustrating. But here’s the truth: one of the most effective ways to raise your GMAT Quant score is to run directly at the question types that give you the most trouble.

A smart first step? Identify the Quant questions you least want to see on test day. Maybe it’s overlapping sets. Maybe it’s rate problems, or coordinate geometry. Then make it your mission to turn that weakness into a strength. Instead of avoiding these questions, commit to practicing them until you’re not just comfortable with them, but actively hoping to see them on the test. That shift—turning dread into confidence—can be a major turning point in your prep.

The benefits go beyond just getting a few extra questions right. For one, when you’re quicker and more accurate with your previously weak areas, you buy yourself more time for other tough problems that require deep thinking or lengthy calculations. Also, the mental boost of knowing you’re no longer vulnerable to a specific type of question can free up focus and reduce stress as you work through the section.

You don’t have to become perfect at every topic. But if you can take just one problem area and turn it into a strength, you might pick up one or two more correct answers on test day. And because of the GMAT’s scoring algorithm, those extra correct answers can lead to a jump of several points in your score. That’s a pretty big return on your investment.

So if you’ve been avoiding a certain type of question, stop. Dive in. Do the work. And watch your score rise.

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

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep