Review Your Mistakes
Learn
Why Mistake Analysis Matters
Making mistakes during practice is not failure; it is essential for learning. However, simply noting that you got a question wrong does not help you improve. To raise your score, you must understand why you made each error and how to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
The Three Types of Errors
Type 1: Content Errors
You did not know the concept, formula, or rule needed to solve the problem.
- Example: Missing a question because you forgot the quadratic formula
- Solution: Review the concept, create a study note, and practice similar problems
- Action: Add to your "content to review" list
Type 2: Careless Errors
You knew the concept but made a computational or reading mistake.
- Example: Solving for x correctly but marking the wrong answer bubble
- Example: Misreading "least" as "most" in a question
- Solution: Develop checking habits; slow down on easy questions
- Action: Track patterns in your careless errors
Type 3: Strategic Errors
You knew the concept but used an inefficient or incorrect approach.
- Example: Spending 5 minutes on a problem that could be solved in 30 seconds by plugging in answer choices
- Example: Not reading all answer choices and selecting the first one that seemed right
- Solution: Learn multiple approaches; practice recognizing which strategy fits each question type
- Action: Add to your "strategy notes"
The Error Log System
Keep a record of every mistake using this format:
- Question: Brief description or question number
- My Answer: What you chose
- Correct Answer: The right answer
- Error Type: Content, Careless, or Strategic
- Why I Missed It: Specific reason for the error
- What I Learned: The takeaway for future questions
Pattern Recognition
After logging 20-30 mistakes, review your error log for patterns:
- Do you make more errors in math or verbal sections?
- Are most errors content-based or careless?
- Do you miss certain question types repeatedly?
- Are errors concentrated at the beginning, middle, or end of sections?
These patterns guide your study priorities. Focus on the error types and content areas where you lose the most points.
Examples
Example 1: Error Log Entry - Content Error
Question: Practice Test 3, Math #24 - Find the value of x when log(x) = 2
My Answer: 2
Correct Answer: 100
Error Type: Content
Why I Missed It: I forgot that log without a base means log base 10, so log(x) = 2 means 10^2 = x.
What I Learned: log(x) = y means 10^y = x. Review logarithm properties and practice converting between log and exponential forms.
Example 2: Error Log Entry - Careless Error
Question: Practice Test 2, Reading #15 - Which choice provides the LEAST support for the author's claim?
My Answer: A (strong support)
Correct Answer: C (least support)
Error Type: Careless
Why I Missed It: I read "LEAST" as "BEST" and chose the strongest supporting evidence instead of the weakest.
What I Learned: Circle or underline words like LEAST, NOT, EXCEPT, and BEST before answering. These words reverse the question's direction.
Example 3: Error Log Entry - Strategic Error
Question: Practice Test 1, Math #30 - Which value of x satisfies x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0?
My Answer: Left blank (ran out of time)
Correct Answer: 2 or 3
Error Type: Strategic
Why I Missed It: I tried to use the quadratic formula but made an arithmetic error and ran out of time. The equation factors easily: (x-2)(x-3) = 0.
What I Learned: Before using the quadratic formula, check if the equation factors easily. Also, I could have plugged in answer choices to check which values make the equation true.
Practice
Apply mistake analysis to these scenarios.
1. A student solved 3x + 7 = 22 and got x = 5, but marked answer choice B (x = 3) on the answer sheet. What type of error is this?
Show Answer
Careless error - The student did the math correctly but made a transcription mistake when marking the answer. Solution: Always double-check that you mark the answer you calculated.
2. A student missed a question asking for the area of a triangle because they used the formula for perimeter instead. What type of error is this?
Show Answer
Content error - The student confused area (A = 1/2 bh) with perimeter (P = sum of sides). Solution: Create a formula sheet and review the difference between area and perimeter.
3. A student spent 4 minutes solving a complex equation algebraically when the answer choices were 2, 4, 6, and 8, and they could have tested each in 30 seconds. What type of error is this?
Show Answer
Strategic error - The student chose an inefficient approach. Solution: When answer choices are simple numbers, consider plugging them in to test which one works.
4. A student correctly identified that a passage discussed the "benefits of urban planning" but chose an answer about "urban planning challenges" because they did not read all options. What type of error is this?
Show Answer
Strategic error - The student did not read all answer choices before selecting. Solution: Always read every answer choice, even if one seems correct immediately.
5. A student calculated that a 15% tip on a $40 bill was $60. What type of error is this, and what went wrong?
Show Answer
Content or Careless error - The student may have calculated 15% incorrectly or made an arithmetic mistake. 15% of $40 = 0.15 x 40 = $6 (not $60). They may have moved the decimal incorrectly.
6. After reviewing 25 mistakes, a student notices that 18 of them are in the math section and 12 involve algebra. What should they prioritize?
Show Answer
The student should prioritize algebra review. Nearly half of all errors (12/25) involve algebra, and it represents 2/3 of math errors (12/18). Focused algebra practice will likely yield the biggest score improvement.
7. A student consistently misses questions at the end of timed sections. What does this pattern suggest?
Show Answer
This pattern suggests pacing issues. The student may be spending too much time on earlier questions. Solutions: Practice with a timer, skip difficult questions and return to them, set mini-deadlines within sections.
8. A student's error log shows they frequently miss questions with "NOT" or "EXCEPT" in them. What strategy should they develop?
Show Answer
The student should develop the habit of circling negative words (NOT, EXCEPT, LEAST) when reading questions. They should also eliminate answer choices that DO fit the description before selecting the one that does NOT.
9. Create an error log entry for this scenario: A student missed a grammar question because they thought "who" and "whom" were interchangeable.
Show Answer
Error Type: Content
Why I Missed It: Did not know the rule for who vs. whom.
What I Learned: "Who" is a subject pronoun (like he/she), and "whom" is an object pronoun (like him/her). Test by substituting: if "him" works, use "whom"; if "he" works, use "who."
10. Why is it important to classify errors by type rather than just noting which questions you missed?
Show Answer
Classifying errors helps you target your improvement efforts. Content errors require concept review; careless errors require attention habits; strategic errors require learning new approaches. Without classification, you might waste time reviewing content when the real issue is pacing or reading carefully.
Check Your Understanding
Answer these questions to verify your mastery of the key concepts.
- Can you identify the three types of errors (content, careless, strategic)?
- Can you create a complete error log entry with all six components?
- Can you analyze patterns in your own mistakes?
- Can you develop specific strategies to address each error type?
- Can you explain why mistake analysis is more valuable than simply doing more practice problems?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, review the corresponding section before moving on.
Next Steps
- Start your personal error log today using the format provided
- After each practice session, spend 10-15 minutes analyzing your mistakes
- Review your error log weekly to identify patterns
- Move on to Mixed Practice Set to apply all your skills