Too many careless errors!

Expert replies

ellochewy: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 17; Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:24 am

by ellochewy » Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:23 pm

I've been using the error tracking spreadsheet to monitor what my mistakes are and why I made those mistakes. I've since realized that most of my mistakes in the quantitative section are all careless mistakes!!! I figured that if I just take more time and answer the questions slowly, I will lower my chances of making careless mistakes, but when I do this, I take too much time.
Does anyone have any good tips to help me with this issue I'm having?
Thanks!

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Quantitative Reasoning | Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:23 pm

GMAT/MBA Expert

Brent@GMATPrepNow: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 16207; Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members; Location: Vancouver, BC; Thanked: 5254 times; GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sat Sep 17, 2011 5:52 am

ellochewy wrote:I've been using the error tracking spreadsheet to monitor what my mistakes are and why I made those mistakes. I've since realized that most of my mistakes in the quantitative section are all careless mistakes!!! I figured that if I just take more time and answer the questions slowly, I will lower my chances of making careless mistakes, but when I do this, I take too much time.
Does anyone have any good tips to help me with this issue I'm having?
Thanks!

This is a common complaint. My advice for the quantitative section is:
1. read the question (at a comfortable speed)
2. solve the question
3. re-read the question (to ensure that you answered the correct question)
4. review your solution
5. enter your answer

It would seem that the extra steps (#2 and #3) will waste too much time, these steps shouldn't take much time. Plus, if you're having a lot of problems with careless mistakes, the extra time spent should be worth it.

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

Like this post

Tani: Legendary Member; Posts: 1255; Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:08 pmFollowed by: 90 members; Location: St. Louis; Thanked: 312 times

by Tani » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:05 am

Can you identify what type of careless errors you are making? Signs? Forgetting about zero, one or fractions? Are your careless mistakes on problem solving or data sufficiency? If you can see a couple of things that you are consistently careless about then you can make a mental note to check for those items. That should be faster than slowing down entirely.

Tani Wolff

Like this post

Post new topic Post Reply

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

560 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review