Grade: Grade 11 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: Review Cycles SAT: Algebra ACT: Math

Weakness Review

đź“– Learn

Improving your SAT/ACT scores requires focusing on your weak areas, not just practicing what you're already good at. This lesson teaches you how to systematically identify, analyze, and address your weaknesses for maximum score improvement.

The Weakness Review Principle

Your biggest potential score gains come from your weakest areas. A student who improves from 50% to 80% accuracy on a weak topic gains more points than someone who improves from 90% to 95% on a strength. Targeted weakness review is the most efficient use of study time.

Step 1: Identify Your Weaknesses

Method How It Works What It Reveals
Practice Test Analysis Categorize every wrong answer by topic/type Patterns in which areas you struggle
Error Log Review Look at your cumulative error records Recurring mistakes across multiple tests
Timed vs. Untimed Comparison Compare performance with and without time pressure Whether issues are content gaps or speed problems
Section Score Analysis Compare scores across different sections Which major areas need the most work

Step 2: Categorize Your Weaknesses

Types of Weaknesses

  • Content Gaps: You don't know the underlying concept or rule (e.g., don't know the quadratic formula)
  • Application Errors: You know the concept but struggle to apply it to questions
  • Careless Mistakes: You know how to solve it but make avoidable errors
  • Timing Issues: You can solve it correctly but take too long
  • Strategy Gaps: You don't know the best approach for certain question types

Step 3: Prioritize Which Weaknesses to Address

Priority Level Criteria Examples
High Priority High frequency, fixable with focused study Missing 80% of comma splice questions when there's a clear rule
Medium Priority Moderate frequency or requires more time to fix Struggling with word problems requiring translation to algebra
Lower Priority Low frequency or very advanced topics Complex coordinate geometry questions that appear once per test

Step 4: Create a Targeted Study Plan

The 3-2-1 Weekly Framework

  • 3 sessions: Focus on your #1 weakness topic (deep study + practice)
  • 2 sessions: Work on your #2 weakness topic
  • 1 session: Mixed review to maintain strengths

Step 5: Track Progress on Weaknesses

  • Baseline: Record your current accuracy on the weakness (e.g., 40% on inference questions)
  • Weekly check: Do 10-15 questions on that topic and track accuracy
  • Goal setting: Set specific targets (e.g., reach 70% accuracy within 2 weeks)
  • Graduation: Once accuracy is 80%+, move the topic to maintenance mode

Common SAT/ACT Weakness Areas

Section Common Weaknesses
SAT Reading/Writing Inference questions, vocabulary in context, evidence pairs, sentence placement, punctuation rules
SAT Math Word problem setup, quadratics, systems of equations, data analysis, geometry
ACT English Comma rules, pronoun agreement, concision, transitions, paragraph organization
ACT Math Trigonometry, matrices, coordinate geometry, probability, complex word problems
ACT Reading Timing/pacing, paired passages, detail questions, author's purpose
ACT Science Conflicting viewpoints, data interpolation, experimental design questions

đź’ˇ Examples

See how to identify and address weaknesses effectively.

Example 1: Analyzing Practice Test Results

Scenario: A student scored 650 on SAT Math and missed these questions:

  • Q8: Linear equation word problem
  • Q15: Quadratic factoring
  • Q18: Word problem (rate/distance)
  • Q22: Systems of equations word problem
  • Q25: Percent word problem
  • Q28: Quadratic with imaginary solutions
  • Q30: Advanced coordinate geometry

Analysis:

  • Pattern identified: 5 of 7 wrong answers are word problems
  • Secondary pattern: 2 of 7 involve quadratics
  • Primary weakness: Translating word problems into math
  • Secondary weakness: Quadratic equations (especially applications)

Study plan:

  1. Spend 60% of math study time on word problem translation strategies
  2. Spend 25% on quadratic review (factoring, formula, applications)
  3. Spend 15% on maintaining other skills

Example 2: Distinguishing Content Gap vs. Careless Error

Question missed: "If 3x - 7 = 14, what is 6x - 14?"

Student's work: Solved 3x - 7 = 14, got x = 7, then calculated 6(7) - 14 = 28

Analysis: This is a careless error, not a content gap.

  • The student CAN solve linear equations (3x - 7 = 14 → 3x = 21 → x = 7)
  • The algebra is correct
  • The error: 6x - 14 = 2(3x - 7) = 2(14) = 28. Actually correct!
  • Wait—let me check: if x = 7, then 6(7) - 14 = 42 - 14 = 28. This IS correct.

If the answer had been wrong:

  • Careless errors often come from rushing, misreading, or calculation mistakes
  • The fix: slow down, check work, use a systematic approach
  • This is different from "I don't know how to solve linear equations"

Example 3: Creating a Weakness-Focused Study Session

Identified weakness: ACT English comma rules (missed 6 comma questions across 2 practice tests)

45-minute targeted study session:

  1. Review rules (10 min): Study the 4 main comma rules tested on ACT
    • Commas with coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)
    • Commas after introductory elements
    • Commas around nonessential clauses
    • Commas in lists
  2. Study your errors (10 min): Re-read each missed comma question and identify which rule applied
  3. Targeted practice (20 min): Do 15-20 comma-only questions from a practice bank
  4. Check and correct (5 min): Review answers, note any patterns

Follow-up: Do 5 comma questions daily for the next week to reinforce learning.

Example 4: Tracking Weakness Improvement

Weakness: SAT Reading inference questions

Tracking spreadsheet:

Date Questions Attempted Correct Accuracy Notes
Week 1 12 5 42% Baseline - choosing answers that are too extreme
Week 2 15 8 53% Improved at eliminating extremes
Week 3 14 10 71% Better at finding text support
Week 4 12 10 83% Ready to move to maintenance

Result: Accuracy improved from 42% to 83% over 4 weeks of targeted practice.

Example 5: Addressing a Timing Weakness

Problem: Student answers ACT Reading questions correctly when untimed but runs out of time on the actual test.

Diagnosis: This is a timing/speed weakness, not a content weakness.

Strategy adjustments:

  1. Set passage time limits: 8.5 minutes per passage (35 min Ă· 4 passages)
  2. Reduce reading time: Skim passage for 3-4 minutes, spend 4-5 minutes on questions
  3. Question triage: Answer easier questions first, mark harder ones to return to
  4. Practice under time pressure: Do timed single-passage drills daily

Practice drill: Set a timer for 8 minutes. Complete one ACT Reading passage. Repeat daily until timing becomes natural. Gradually reduce to 8.5 minutes including buffer time.

✏️ Practice

Apply weakness review principles to these scenarios.

1. A student missed these SAT Math questions: #12 (percent), #18 (ratio), #22 (percent change), #25 (proportion), #28 (unit rate). What weakness does this suggest?

A) Algebra

B) Ratios, proportions, and percentages

C) Geometry

D) Functions

2. A student knows the quadratic formula but consistently makes sign errors when substituting values. This is primarily:

A) A content gap

B) A careless error pattern

C) A timing issue

D) A strategy gap

3. Which weakness should be addressed FIRST?

A) Missing 2 out of 3 advanced trigonometry questions

B) Missing 8 out of 10 comma questions

C) Missing 1 out of 5 main idea questions

D) Missing 1 complex coordinate geometry question

4. A student scores 85% on math when untimed but 65% on timed tests. The primary issue is:

A) Content knowledge

B) Test anxiety

C) Pacing and timing

D) Carelessness

5. The 3-2-1 weekly framework recommends spending the most time on:

A) Your greatest strength

B) Your #1 weakness

C) Mixed practice

D) Full practice tests

6. When should a weakness be moved to "maintenance mode"?

A) After studying it for one day

B) When accuracy reaches 80%+

C) When you're bored with the topic

D) After taking one practice test

7. A student consistently chooses answers that are "too extreme" on inference questions. The fix is:

A) Read the passage more slowly

B) Learn to eliminate extreme answer choices

C) Study vocabulary

D) Skip inference questions

8. What percentage of study time should go toward your primary weakness in the 3-2-1 framework?

A) About 20%

B) About 50%

C) About 75%

D) 100%

9. If you don't know the rules for comma usage, your weakness is:

A) Carelessness

B) A content gap

C) Timing

D) Test anxiety

10. The BEST way to identify weaknesses is to:

A) Guess which topics you're bad at

B) Analyze practice test results by topic

C) Study everything equally

D) Focus only on the hardest questions

Answer Key
  1. B - All wrong answers involve ratios, proportions, or percentages—a clear pattern.
  2. B - Knowing the formula but making sign errors is a careless mistake pattern.
  3. B - 80% error rate on a common question type (commas) = high priority.
  4. C - The 20-point drop under time pressure indicates pacing problems.
  5. B - The framework dedicates 3 of 6 sessions to your #1 weakness.
  6. B - 80%+ accuracy indicates sufficient mastery to move to maintenance.
  7. B - Learning to eliminate extreme answers addresses this specific error pattern.
  8. B - 3 sessions out of 6 total = 50% of study time on #1 weakness.
  9. B - Not knowing the rules is a content gap requiring direct instruction.
  10. B - Systematic analysis of practice test errors reveals actual weaknesses.

âś… Check Your Understanding

Reflect on your approach to weakness review.

1. Why is studying your weaknesses more effective than practicing your strengths?

Consider this

Improvement potential follows the law of diminishing returns. If you're already scoring 90% on a topic, there's only 10% room for improvement, and those last gains are often the hardest. But if you're scoring 50% on a topic, there's 50% potential improvement, and the first gains (learning fundamental concepts) are often easier. Additionally, most standardized tests have questions at all difficulty levels across topics—improving your weak areas helps you capture "easy" points you're currently missing.

2. How can you tell the difference between a content gap and a careless error?

Consider this

Ask yourself: "Do I know how to solve this type of problem when not under pressure?" If the answer is no, it's a content gap—you need to learn the underlying concept. If the answer is yes but you still got it wrong, examine what went wrong: Did you misread? Make a calculation error? Rush through steps? Content gaps require study and instruction; careless errors require process changes like slowing down, checking work, and building better habits.

3. What should you do if you have weaknesses in multiple areas?

Consider this

Prioritize based on two factors: frequency and fixability. High-frequency weaknesses (topics that appear often) offer more point potential. Highly fixable weaknesses (clear rules or concepts to learn) give faster returns. Address 1-2 weaknesses at a time intensively rather than spreading effort across many. Once one improves to 80%+, move to the next. Keep a weakness priority list and update it after each practice test.

4. How long should you focus on a single weakness before reassessing?

Consider this

Give targeted study 2-3 weeks before expecting significant improvement. Learning takes time to consolidate. During this period, do focused practice almost daily on the weakness. After 2-3 weeks, take a practice test or do a large set of questions on that topic to measure progress. If improvement is significant (moving toward 80%+), continue until graduation. If no improvement after 3 weeks of consistent effort, consider whether you're studying effectively or whether you need a different approach (tutor, different resources, etc.).

🚀 Next Steps

  • Review any concepts that felt challenging
  • Move on to the next lesson when ready
  • Return to practice problems periodically for review