Purpose of “Review and Edit” Option on GMAT

GMAT is as much a test of your time management abilities as it is a test of your reasoning and problem-solving skills. One of the most interesting tools for managing time effectively during the test is the “Review and Edit” option. Used wisely, this feature can help you allocate your time strategically and maximize your score potential. However, using it incorrectly—especially to try and “game the system”—can backfire and hurt your performance.

In this article, we’ll explore why the option to bookmark a question and review and edit it later is invaluable for managing hard questions, how to use it effectively, and why trying to manipulate the GMAT algorithm using this feature can do more harm than good.

What is the “Review and Edit” Option?

GMAT allows you to bookmark questions for review during the exam. This means that while answering a question, you can tag it as one you might want to revisit if time permits. Once you’ve reached the end of a section, you can navigate back to these marked questions and adjust your answers.

How does “Review and Edit” work?

As per our experience of the last few months, we can say this – When you answer a question incorrectly, the software notices that you faced problems with a question of that level. So, it chooses the next question for you accordingly. If you do correct the answer later, you may not get penalized for that question, but you did get easier questions subsequently and that does impact your score. The fact that you “eventually got it” does not change the fact that you did face problems on it.

What should you use it for? 

Hence, the right way to use it is this – when stuck on a hard question, mark it for review and move on. Come back to it later, if time permits. Mind you, getting this hard question wrong will not affect the working of the algorithm much because it is a hard question. If you come back to it later and get it right, your score bumps up a bit because you got it right.
Keep in mind – Much of your score depends on whether you handled easy and medium questions properly. That is priority. Getting hard questions right does increase your score, but marginally. You have enough leeway with hard questions, but none with easy/medium questions.

How does “Review and Edit” help?

• It lets you prioritize: It helps you prioritize where to spend your time. You can spend more time on challenging questions after properly handling easier and medium ones. The penalty for getting easier questions wrong is quite high. The penalty for getting hard questions wrong is quite low. So if you get a hard question and are unable to solve it in a timely manner, you can defer it and come back to it for another shot later.
• It keeps you moving: It helps you avoid wasting time staying stuck on one question and risking a string of unanswered ones later. The penalty for leaving questions unanswered is huge. Psychologically, it is far easier to “move on” if you know that you have kept the window to return open. You are no longer in a “Now or Never” quagmire.
• It helps you manage decision fatigue Decision fatigue is real during a timed test like the GMAT. By deferring tough questions, you conserve mental energy for later, when you can approach them with a clearer mind.
• It reduces anxiety Getting stuck on a hard question, especially early in the section, can shake your confidence. By marking it for review, you free yourself from unnecessary stress and maintain a positive test-taking rhythm. You know you can go back to it so it is not a lost opportunity.

The Dangers of Misusing “Review and Edit”

While the “Review and Edit” option is a powerful tool, misusing it—especially with the intent of gaming the GMAT algorithm—can have serious consequences. Here’s why:

The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), meaning the difficulty of your questions adjusts based on your performance. If you intentionally mark easy questions incorrectly with the idea of correcting them later, you send misleading signals to the algorithm. You Shouldn’t Try to “Game the System” because of the following reasons:

• You Risk Getting Stuck in Low-Difficulty Zones The GMAT algorithm adapts based on your responses. If you mark easy questions wrong early on, the system may serve you easier questions moving forward, limiting your scoring potential. Then even if you get almost all questions right, you may still get a low score. You must get every question right to get a Q90 i.e. to not get penalized for getting easy questions. Otherwise, even one question wrong could make your score nosedive.
• Wastes Time  Revisiting intentionally incorrect answers later wastes time and mental energy that could be better spent on genuinely challenging questions.
• Chances of Mistake Compound Deliberately marking easy questions wrong increases the risk of leaving them unresolved (if you run out of time) or accidentally correcting them incorrectly later in a rush. That could heavily penalize your overall score.

Conclusion

The GMAT rewards test-takers who combine conceptual understanding with smart time management. The “Review and Edit” feature is a valuable ally in this effort, allowing you to manage tough questions strategically. However, like any tool, it must be used wisely. Focus on genuine skill-building and strategic use of this feature, and you’ll set yourself up for GMAT success.