Review Mistakes
Learning from mistakes helps you get better! Let's look at common timing errors and how to fix them.
Why Review Mistakes?
Everyone makes mistakes on timed tests. The smart thing is to learn from them! When you understand WHY you made a mistake, you can avoid making the same mistake again.
Common Mistake #1: Rushing Too Fast
When you rush, you might misread the question or make calculation errors. For example, seeing "6 x 7" but calculating "6 + 7" by accident.
How to Fix It
Take a breath before answering. Read the question twice if needed. A few extra seconds can prevent silly mistakes!
Common Mistake #2: Getting Stuck
Spending 5 minutes on one hard question means you might not have time for easier questions worth the same points.
How to Fix It
Use the "skip and return" strategy. If a question takes more than 1-2 minutes, mark it and move on. Come back later!
Practice Questions
Try these questions carefully. If you get one wrong, read the explanation to learn from it!
1. Amy rushed and read "8 x 4" as "8 + 4". What answer did she probably get?
A) 12
B) 24
C) 32
D) 48
Answer
A) 12 - If Amy added instead of multiplied, she got 8 + 4 = 12. The correct answer should be 8 x 4 = 32.
2. What is 72 divided by 9?
A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9
Answer
C) 8 - 72 / 9 = 8. Check by multiplying: 9 x 8 = 72.
3. Ben spent 8 minutes on question 1 of a 10-question test with 20 minutes total. What should Ben do differently next time?
A) Spend even more time
B) Skip hard questions and come back
C) Give up on the test
D) Only answer question 1
Answer
B) Skip hard questions and come back - Ben used almost half his time on one question! He should skip hard ones and return later.
4. A store has 56 oranges in 8 equal bags. How many oranges are in each bag?
A) 6 oranges
B) 7 oranges
C) 8 oranges
D) 9 oranges
Answer
B) 7 oranges - Divide: 56 / 8 = 7 oranges per bag.
5. What is the best way to check if your answer is correct?
A) Do not check, just move on
B) Use the opposite operation to verify
C) Guess a different answer
D) Ask a friend
Answer
B) Use the opposite operation to verify - For division, check with multiplication. For subtraction, check with addition.
6. What is 5 x 9?
A) 14
B) 36
C) 45
D) 54
Answer
C) 45 - 5 x 9 = 45. If you got 14, you added instead of multiplied!
7. Carla missed a question because she did not read it fully. The question asked "How many are LEFT?" but she found the total. What should Carla do next time?
A) Read faster
B) Underline key words like "left" or "total"
C) Skip all word problems
D) Always find the total
Answer
B) Underline key words like "left" or "total" - Key words tell you what operation to use. "Left" means subtract!
8. There are 24 students going on a field trip. They will ride in vans that hold 6 students each. How many vans are needed?
A) 3 vans
B) 4 vans
C) 5 vans
D) 6 vans
Answer
B) 4 vans - Divide: 24 / 6 = 4 vans needed.
9. After a timed test, what is the BEST thing to do with your mistakes?
A) Forget about them
B) Feel bad about them
C) Study them to learn what went wrong
D) Blame the test
Answer
C) Study them to learn what went wrong - Reviewing mistakes helps you avoid the same errors next time!
10. Which fraction equals 1/2?
A) 2/6
B) 3/6
C) 4/6
D) 5/6
Answer
B) 3/6 - 3/6 simplifies to 1/2 because 3 is half of 6.
Learning from Your Errors
- Wrong operation? Underline key words in word problems
- Calculation error? Double-check with the opposite operation
- Ran out of time? Practice pacing and skip hard questions
- Misread the question? Read twice, especially the last line