Grade: Grade 12 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: Superscore Strategy SAT: ProblemSolving+DataAnalysis ACT: Math

Review Mistakes Effectively

📖 Learn

The most effective way to improve your superscore is through systematic analysis of your mistakes. Every wrong answer contains valuable information about how to gain points on your next attempt.

The Error Classification System

Categorize every mistake into one of these four types:

Type 1: Careless Errors

  • Misreading the question
  • Calculation mistakes
  • Bubbling errors
  • Not reading all answer choices

Fix: Develop checking habits and slow down on final answer selection.

Type 2: Knowledge Gaps

  • Missing content knowledge
  • Unfamiliar vocabulary
  • Concepts never learned

Fix: Targeted content review and study of specific topics.

Type 3: Strategy Errors

  • Poor time management
  • Wrong approach to question type
  • Inefficient problem-solving method

Fix: Learn and practice better strategies for specific question types.

Type 4: Test Anxiety Errors

  • Rushing due to panic
  • Second-guessing correct answers
  • Mental blocks on familiar material

Fix: Practice under test conditions, develop coping strategies.

The Error Log System

Create a structured error log with these columns:

  1. Date: When you encountered the question
  2. Test/Section: Source of the question
  3. Question #: Reference for review
  4. Topic: Content area (e.g., "Quadratic equations")
  5. Error Type: Careless, Knowledge, Strategy, or Anxiety
  6. What went wrong: Specific description of the mistake
  7. Correct approach: How to solve it correctly
  8. Action item: What to study or practice

The Three-Pass Review Method

Pass 1: Immediate Review (Same Day)

Right after practice, review every wrong answer while your thinking is fresh. Write down why you chose what you chose.

Pass 2: Understanding Review (Next Day)

Look at the correct solutions. Make sure you understand not just what the right answer is, but why each wrong answer is wrong.

Pass 3: Retention Review (1 Week Later)

Reattempt the same questions without looking at your notes. If you miss any again, they need more practice.

💡 Examples

See how error analysis leads to score improvement.

Example 1: Error Log Entry

Date:January 5
Test:SAT Practice Test 3, Math Module 2
Question:#18
Topic:Systems of Equations
Error Type:Strategy
What went wrong:Tried to solve by substitution, took 4 minutes, made algebra error
Correct approach:Add equations directly to eliminate variable - 30 seconds
Action item:Practice recognizing when to add/subtract systems vs. substitute

Example 2: Pattern Recognition

After reviewing 50 practice questions, Marcus noticed:

  • 8 errors on comma usage (Knowledge Gap)
  • 5 errors on "which choice best" questions (Strategy)
  • 4 errors from misreading "NOT" or "EXCEPT" (Careless)
  • 3 errors on questions he knew but second-guessed (Anxiety)

Action Plan:

  1. Study comma rules for 30 minutes daily for 1 week
  2. Learn the specific strategy for "best choice" questions
  3. Circle negative keywords when reading questions
  4. Develop a "stick with first answer" rule

✏️ Practice

Complete these exercises to build your error analysis skills.

Practice Item 1: Error Classification

Classify this error: "I knew the formula for the area of a circle but accidentally used 2r instead of r squared." What type of error is this?

Practice Item 2: Error Classification

Classify this error: "I didn't know that 'ubiquitous' means 'everywhere' so I couldn't understand the passage's main argument." What type of error is this?

Practice Item 3: Error Classification

Classify this error: "I tried to solve the problem algebraically when I could have just plugged in the answer choices." What type of error is this?

Practice Item 4: Error Classification

Classify this error: "I was so nervous about time that I rushed through the last passage and missed details I would normally catch." What type of error is this?

Practice Item 5: Action Planning

A student's error log shows 12 errors on ACT Science "conflicting viewpoints" passages but only 3 errors on "data representation" passages. Design a focused study plan.

Practice Item 6: Error Log Creation

Create a complete error log entry for this scenario: On SAT Reading, you chose answer A for a "main idea" question, but the correct answer was C. You picked A because it mentioned a detail from the first paragraph.

Practice Item 7: Pattern Analysis

Looking at this error distribution, what should be the top priority for review? Algebra: 2 errors, Geometry: 8 errors, Data Analysis: 4 errors, Advanced Math: 6 errors.

Practice Item 8: Three-Pass Planning

You completed a practice test on Monday. Map out exactly when you will do each of the three review passes and what you will do in each.

Practice Item 9: Careless Error Prevention

List 5 specific habits or checks you can implement to reduce careless errors on the SAT/ACT.

Practice Item 10: Knowledge Gap Identification

After reviewing your errors, you find you consistently miss questions involving: "however," "nevertheless," "consequently," and "furthermore." What knowledge gap does this suggest? What's your action plan?

✅ Check Your Understanding

Test yourself with these review questions.

  1. What are the four types of errors in the classification system?
  2. What information should be included in an error log entry?
  3. What is the purpose of each pass in the three-pass review method?
  4. How do you fix a "strategy error" vs. a "knowledge gap"?
  5. Why is it important to review errors on the same day as practice?

🚀 Next Steps

  • Set up an error log spreadsheet or notebook
  • Review your most recent practice test using the three-pass method
  • Identify your top 3 error patterns and create action plans
  • Move on to the next lesson: Mixed Practice Sets