Grade: Grade 12 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: College Readiness SAT: ProblemSolving+DataAnalysis ACT: Math

Review Mistakes

Learn

The most valuable part of any practice test is not taking it, but reviewing your mistakes afterward. Students who systematically analyze their errors improve faster than those who simply do more practice problems.

The Error Log System

Create an error log to track and categorize every mistake. For each error, record:

  1. Question Number and Section: Where it appeared on the test
  2. Question Type: The specific skill being tested
  3. Your Answer vs. Correct Answer: What you chose and what was right
  4. Error Category: Why you got it wrong (see categories below)
  5. Lesson Learned: What you'll do differently next time

Four Categories of Errors

Error Type Description Solution
Content Gap You didn't know the concept or formula Study the topic, create flashcards, practice similar problems
Careless Error You knew how to solve it but made a calculation or reading mistake Slow down, double-check work, underline key words
Time Pressure You rushed or ran out of time Practice pacing, use two-pass strategy, build speed on easy questions
Test Trap You fell for a trick or misleading answer choice Learn common traps, read all choices before selecting, check for extreme words

Deep Analysis Process

For each wrong answer, ask yourself these questions:

  • Can I explain why the correct answer is correct?
  • Can I explain why my answer was wrong?
  • Can I explain why each other wrong answer is wrong?
  • What would I do differently if I saw this question again?
  • What similar questions might appear on the actual test?

Patterns to Watch For

  • Section Patterns: Are you weaker in Reading vs. Math? English vs. Science?
  • Question Type Patterns: Do you struggle with inference questions? Systems of equations?
  • Timing Patterns: Do errors cluster at the end of sections?
  • Difficulty Patterns: Are you missing easy questions (careless) or hard ones (content gaps)?

Examples

Example 1: Error Log Entry - Content Gap

Question: SAT Math #28 - Systems of Equations

My Answer: B (x = 3)

Correct Answer: C (x = -2)

Error Type: Content Gap - I forgot that when dividing by a negative, I need to flip the inequality sign.

Lesson Learned: Review inequality rules. Create flashcard: "Dividing/multiplying by negative = flip the sign."

Example 2: Error Log Entry - Careless Error

Question: ACT English #45 - Subject-Verb Agreement

My Answer: A (keeps "is")

Correct Answer: B (changes to "are")

Error Type: Careless Error - I identified "committee" as the subject but missed that "members" was the actual subject of the clause.

Lesson Learned: Underline the subject in grammar questions before choosing. Look for prepositional phrases that separate subject from verb.

Example 3: Error Log Entry - Test Trap

Question: SAT Reading #32 - Evidence Question

My Answer: D (lines 45-48)

Correct Answer: B (lines 28-31)

Error Type: Test Trap - Answer D mentioned the topic but didn't actually support the previous answer. I chose it because it "sounded right."

Lesson Learned: For evidence questions, verify that the lines DIRECTLY support my previous answer. Don't choose based on topic alone.

Practice

Analyze the following scenarios and categorize each error. Then write what lesson could be learned.

1. Marcus chose "affect" instead of "effect" in a grammar question. He knew the difference but was reading quickly.

Error Type: ____________________

Lesson Learned: ____________________

2. Aisha couldn't solve a quadratic equation because she didn't remember the quadratic formula.

Error Type: ____________________

Lesson Learned: ____________________

3. David chose an answer that said "always" when the passage only said "sometimes." The question asked what the author "would most likely agree with."

Error Type: ____________________

Lesson Learned: ____________________

4. Lisa left the last 5 questions of the math section blank because she ran out of time.

Error Type: ____________________

Lesson Learned: ____________________

5. Jordan solved 2x + 4 = 10 and got x = 7, forgetting to subtract 4 before dividing.

Error Type: ____________________

Lesson Learned: ____________________

6. Mia chose the answer that seemed most similar to what she remembered from the passage, but she didn't go back to verify. The passage actually said the opposite.

Error Type: ____________________

Lesson Learned: ____________________

7. Alex didn't know what "precipitate" meant in a science passage and guessed incorrectly on a vocabulary-in-context question.

Error Type: ____________________

Lesson Learned: ____________________

8. Sam correctly solved a problem but accidentally bubbled in answer C when the answer was B.

Error Type: ____________________

Lesson Learned: ____________________

9. Taylor chose "the author implies" answer based on personal opinion rather than textual evidence.

Error Type: ____________________

Lesson Learned: ____________________

10. Create an error log entry for your most recent practice test mistake. Include all five components: question info, your answer, correct answer, error type, and lesson learned.

Check Your Understanding

1. What are the five components of a complete error log entry?

2. What's the difference between a "Content Gap" error and a "Careless Error"?

3. How can you identify if time pressure is causing many of your errors?

4. Why is it important to explain why wrong answers are wrong, not just why the correct answer is correct?

5. If you notice that most of your errors are "Test Traps" on Reading questions, what should you do differently?

Next Steps

  • Create your own error log (spreadsheet or notebook)
  • Review your last practice test and categorize every error
  • Identify your top 3 error patterns
  • Create a targeted study plan based on your patterns
  • Move on to the Mixed Practice Set lesson to apply what you've learned