Review Mistakes
Learn
The most effective way to improve your test scores is to learn from your mistakes. Top scorers spend as much time reviewing wrong answers as they do taking practice tests. This lesson teaches you a systematic approach to error analysis.
The Error Log System
Create an error log for every practice test you take. For each wrong answer, record:
- Question Information: Test date, section, question number, topic
- What You Answered: Your incorrect choice
- Correct Answer: The right choice and why it's correct
- Error Type: Why you got it wrong (see categories below)
- Lesson Learned: What to do differently next time
Error Type Categories
1. Content Errors (Didn't Know)
You didn't know the concept, formula, rule, or vocabulary needed.
- Fix: Study the underlying concept, add to flashcards, practice similar problems
- Example: Missed a quadratic question because you forgot the quadratic formula
2. Careless Errors (Knew But Slipped)
You knew how to solve it but made a calculation or reading mistake.
- Fix: Slow down, double-check arithmetic, read more carefully
- Example: Solved correctly but copied the wrong answer choice
3. Conceptual Errors (Misunderstood)
You thought you understood but had a flawed understanding.
- Fix: Revisit the concept from the beginning, try different explanations
- Example: Confused median with mean
4. Time Pressure Errors (Rushed)
You ran out of time or rushed due to poor pacing.
- Fix: Practice pacing, identify time-sink questions, use the skip strategy
- Example: Guessed on the last 5 questions because time ran out
5. Trap Errors (Fell for Distractor)
You chose an answer that was specifically designed to catch common mistakes.
- Fix: Learn to recognize common traps, re-read questions carefully
- Example: Found "x" when the question asked for "2x + 1"
The Review Process
- Same Day Review: Go through every wrong answer while the test is fresh
- Understand the Correct Answer: Don't just note it - understand WHY it's right
- Understand Your Wrong Answer: Figure out exactly where your thinking went wrong
- Categorize the Error: Assign it to one of the five error types
- Create an Action Item: What specific step will prevent this error next time?
- Weekly Review: Look for patterns in your error log
Pattern Recognition
After 2-3 practice tests, analyze your error log for patterns:
- Which topics appear most frequently?
- Which error types dominate?
- Do errors cluster in certain sections or time periods?
- Are there specific question formats that trip you up?
Examples
Example Error Log Entry 1
| Test/Question: | Practice Test 3, Math #18 |
| Topic: | Percent increase |
| My Answer: | B (25%) |
| Correct Answer: | C (20%) |
| Error Type: | Conceptual - confused percent increase with percent of |
| What Went Wrong: | I calculated 25/100 instead of 25/125 for percent increase |
| Lesson Learned: | Percent increase = (new - old) / old, not (difference) / new |
Example Error Log Entry 2
| Test/Question: | Practice Test 3, Reading #32 |
| Topic: | Author's purpose |
| My Answer: | A (to persuade) |
| Correct Answer: | D (to inform) |
| Error Type: | Trap - chose based on topic rather than tone |
| What Went Wrong: | The passage was about a controversial topic, so I assumed persuasion, but the tone was neutral and factual |
| Lesson Learned: | Focus on HOW the author writes, not just WHAT the topic is |
Example Pattern Analysis
After reviewing 3 practice tests, a student found:
- 8 of 12 math errors were in geometry (Content gap - need geometry review)
- 5 of 9 reading errors were on "author's purpose" questions (Need strategy work)
- 6 errors were in the last 10 minutes of each section (Time pressure - need pacing practice)
Action Plan: Spend 30 minutes daily on geometry, practice author's purpose questions, and do timed drills for pacing.
Practice
Complete these exercises to practice error analysis skills.
1. A student solved 3x + 6 = 15 and got x = 7. Identify the error type and what went wrong.
Show Answer
Error Type: Careless error. What went wrong: The student likely divided 15 by 3 instead of first subtracting 6. Correct: 3x = 9, x = 3.
2. A student chose "melancholy" as a synonym for "jovial." Identify the error type.
Show Answer
Error Type: Content error (didn't know vocabulary). Melancholy means sad; jovial means cheerful. These are antonyms, not synonyms.
3. A question asks for the area of a rectangle with length 8 and width 5. A student answered 26. What error type is this, and what happened?
Show Answer
Error Type: Conceptual error. The student calculated perimeter (2(8+5) = 26) instead of area (8 x 5 = 40).
4. A student guessed on the last 8 questions of the ACT Reading section. What error type is this?
Show Answer
Error Type: Time pressure error. The student ran out of time and had to guess rather than strategically work through questions.
5. A question asks "Which of the following is NOT a prime number?" A student who correctly identified primes still chose the wrong answer. What likely happened?
Show Answer
Error Type: Trap error. The student likely missed the word "NOT" and chose a prime number instead of the non-prime.
6. Create an error log entry for this scenario: On a math question about slope, you calculated rise/run as 3/6 = 2 instead of 3/6 = 0.5.
Show Answer
Error Type: Careless error. What went wrong: Divided incorrectly (3/6 = 0.5, not 2). Lesson: Double-check simple division, especially with fractions.
7. A student consistently misses questions about subject-verb agreement with collective nouns. What type of review is needed?
Show Answer
This is a content gap that requires targeted grammar study on collective nouns (team, group, committee, etc.) and whether they take singular or plural verbs.
8. Looking at your error log, you notice 70% of your wrong answers come from the second half of each section. What does this suggest and what's the fix?
Show Answer
This suggests fatigue or time pressure. Fixes: Practice full-length sections to build stamina, improve pacing in the first half to save time, and consider strategic guessing if needed.
9. A student thought "affect" and "effect" were interchangeable and missed 3 grammar questions. What category is this?
Show Answer
Content error (vocabulary/grammar gap). Need to study: "Affect" is usually a verb (to influence), "effect" is usually a noun (a result).
10. On a word problem, the question asked for the number of remaining apples. The student correctly calculated total apples (24) but forgot to subtract the 8 that were eaten. Error type?
Show Answer
Trap error - The student solved part of the problem but didn't complete the final step. Lesson: Re-read what the question is asking after solving.
Check Your Understanding
1. Name the five error type categories.
Show Answer
Content errors, Careless errors, Conceptual errors, Time pressure errors, and Trap errors.
2. What is the most important part of an error log entry?
Show Answer
The "Lesson Learned" or action item - the specific step you'll take to prevent this error in the future.
3. How often should you review your error log for patterns?
Show Answer
Weekly, and especially after every 2-3 practice tests to identify recurring issues.
Next Steps
- Create your own error log template (paper or digital)
- Review your most recent practice test using the error log system
- Identify your top 3 error patterns and create a study plan to address them
- Move on to the Mixed Practice Set lesson to apply what you've learned