Considering the unique question style, the huge experience of the official GMAT writers, and the ability to present large amounts of new questions on a regular basis, the questions we meet are aimed at making our lives miserable. The writers know exactly where we might go wrong, and they supply us with all the possible mistakes in the answers. The questions may contain redundant data we have to find and ignore. And the simplest questions are phrased in order to confuse us the most.

Furthermore, the writers are quite limited with the level and scale of math they may use, so they find the most creative ways to misguide us. The writers also need to write questions that will test your ability to use intuition along with the skill of using linear and orderly ways of solving problems. As a whole, the test rewards the linear and intuitive thinker greatly. However, as students we need not to worry much. We only need to identify these common mistakes and the best way to avoid them.

after solving the question. To avoid overlooking details, make sure you read the question thoroughly more than once. Pay attention to every detail and use it while you solve. 

3. Direction: Choosing the wrong direction for your solution can occur in a few different ways. For example, in percent questions, calculating a percent bottom up instead of the opposite. In ratio problems it is about what the denominator is and what the numerator is. In motion problems, it is calculating the distance between the two trains instead of calculating the distance from train A to its station. These mistakes are usually caused due to the fact that we begin our solution by using the given data and forget the main target of the question. To overcome this common mistake, while reading the question for the first time, write down exactly what it is you are looking for, solve to find it, and make sure you got it before choosing an answer. 

4. Knowledge: A knowledge based mistake occurs when the test taker does not know how to solve a certain type of question. When this happens, try to match the question with previously seen questions that seem similar. If that doesn’t help, try to define the subject, principle or method this question reminds you of. The best way to make sure this mistake doesn’t happen is preparation. Prepare using up-to-date study materials, computer simulations and practice questions.  

5. Calculation: This mistake mostly happens at the very last stage of solving a question. An equation is already solved and all you have to do is find what x equals. That is when a simple 10x=1200 can make you think that x=200 for no apparent reason. Of course, 200 is one of the given answer choices since you are not the first person to make that same mistake. The GMAT test writers use the statistic data collected from past exams in order to discover what mistakes people normally make and insert them into the answer choices. This specific mistake is mainly caused by last minute loss of attention and focus. You feel safe because you know you are almost at the end, you lower your guard and you err. This is why a large percent of deadly car accidents happen at night, 500 yard from home! People feel “it's ok, I’m almost home” and then they fall asleep. In order to overcome this type of mistake, you need to regain your last minute focus and attention for a few seconds longer, making sure you finish the calculation all the way through before choosing the correct answer choice.