Grade: Grade 11 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: Strategy Playbook SAT: ProblemSolving+DataAnalysis ACT: Math

Review Mistakes Effectively

Learn

The most valuable part of practice is learning from your mistakes. This lesson teaches you a systematic approach to error analysis that turns every wrong answer into a learning opportunity.

The Error Log System

Create an error log with these columns for every practice test:

  1. Question Number/Topic: What was the question about?
  2. My Answer: What did I choose?
  3. Correct Answer: What was right?
  4. Error Type: Why did I miss it? (See categories below)
  5. Lesson Learned: What will I do differently?

Error Type Categories

  • Content Gap: I didn't know the concept or formula
  • Careless Error: I knew how to solve it but made a calculation or reading mistake
  • Misread Question: I didn't understand what the question was asking
  • Time Pressure: I rushed and didn't think it through
  • Trap Answer: I fell for a deliberately misleading choice
  • Strategy Error: I used an inefficient or wrong approach

The 3-Step Review Process

  1. Immediate Review (Same Day): Review all wrong answers while the test is fresh. Categorize each error.
  2. Pattern Analysis (Weekly): Look for trends. Are most errors careless? Content gaps? Adjust your study accordingly.
  3. Targeted Practice (Ongoing): Create problem sets focusing on your weak areas.

Turning Mistakes into Points

Each error type has a specific fix:

  • Content Gap: Study the topic, do 10+ practice problems
  • Careless Error: Slow down, double-check calculations, underline key words
  • Misread Question: Always identify what the question asks BEFORE solving
  • Time Pressure: Practice pacing, use the two-pass strategy
  • Trap Answer: Learn common traps, eliminate before choosing
  • Strategy Error: Build a toolkit of approaches for each question type

Examples

Example 1: Error Log Entry

Question: #15 - Solving systems of equations

My Answer: B (x = 3)

Correct Answer: D (x = 5)

Error Type: Careless Error - I dropped a negative sign when combining equations

Lesson Learned: Write each step clearly, double-check signs when subtracting equations

Example 2: Pattern Analysis

After reviewing 3 practice tests:

  • 40% of errors: Content Gap (especially quadratics and trig)
  • 35% of errors: Careless Errors (calculation mistakes)
  • 25% of errors: Misread Question

Action Plan: Spend 60% of study time on quadratics/trig content, practice slower reading for word problems

Example 3: Trap Answer Recognition

"If 2x + 4 = 12, what is the value of x + 2?"

Trap Answer: 4 (solving for x only)

Correct Answer: 6 (x = 4, so x + 2 = 6)

Pattern: Test makers often include the intermediate step as a wrong answer

Practice

For each scenario, identify the error type and write what you would put in your "Lesson Learned" column.

1. You solved a percentage problem correctly but answered "what percent" when the question asked for "what number." What error type is this?

2. You couldn't solve a problem involving the quadratic formula because you forgot the formula. What error type is this?

3. You calculated 8 x 7 = 54 during a multi-step problem. What error type is this?

4. You ran out of time and guessed on the last 5 questions without reading them. What error type is this?

5. You chose the answer that was half the correct answer because you forgot to double at the end. What error type is this?

6. You spent 4 minutes solving algebraically when plugging in answer choices would have taken 30 seconds. What error type is this?

7. Create an error log entry for this scenario: You missed a geometry problem about finding the area of a triangle because you used the perimeter formula instead.

8. Write an action plan for someone whose error log shows: 60% content gaps in algebra, 25% careless errors, 15% misread questions.

Check Your Understanding

  1. What are the five columns in an effective error log?
  2. Name three different error type categories.
  3. What is the specific fix for "content gap" errors?
  4. How often should you do pattern analysis of your errors?
  5. Why is immediate review (same day) important?

Next Steps

  • Create your own error log template (digital or paper)
  • Review your last practice test using the 3-step process
  • Identify your top 2 error types and create a targeted study plan
  • Move on to Mixed Practice Sets to apply all your strategies together