Record the topic, your reason for choosing the wrong answer, the corrected idea, and a fresh question to try later. Log correct guesses too. A useful mistake log tells you what to do next; it does not just collect answer keys.
A score tells you the result. A log helps you choose the next task.
After a mock exam, it is tempting to check the score, skim the solutions and start another set. Before doing that, choose three questions you missed or guessed. For each one, ask: what would I need to understand to solve a different version?
Your mistake log can be a notebook, a spreadsheet or a note on your phone. The format matters less than whether you can turn the entry into a small action. This is a practical review method, not a promise of a particular score increase.
Copy this five-column template
| Topic or reference | What happened? | Correct idea | Next practice task | Later check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent change, practice Q4 | I used the final value as the denominator | Divide the change by the original value | Solve two new percent-change examples | Date and result |
| Reading, practice Q9 | I chose a true detail that did not answer the main-point question | Match the answer to the passage’s overall claim | Summarize a new paragraph in one sentence | Date and result |
| Algebra, practice Q12 | Correct answer, but I guessed | I still need to explain the balancing step | Solve a fresh equation and describe both sides | Date and result |
These are original illustrative examples, not actual admissions-test questions. Keep your entries short enough to reread. You do not need a transcript of the entire explanation.
Separate the error from the feeling
“I’m bad at math” is difficult to act on. “I changed a sign while moving terms” gives you something concrete to inspect. Try these labels:
- Concept: I did not know which idea or method applied.
- Execution: I chose a reasonable method but made an arithmetic, sign or copying error.
- Reading: I overlooked a condition or answered a different question.
- Timing: I could solve it, but my approach took too long for the practice set.
- Uncertain: I got it right without a reliable explanation.
An entry may have more than one label. Be specific before deciding that you simply need to work faster.
Work through one complete example
Suppose an item rises from ₱80 to ₱100. You answer “20%” because the increase is ₱20 and you divide by the final price, ₱100.
The corrected idea is to compare the change with the original price. The increase is 20 ÷ 80 = 0.25, or 25%. Your entry should name the denominator mistake, not merely write “answer: 25%.”
For the later check, use different numbers: a value rises from 120 to 150. Explain why 30 ÷ 120 gives 25%. If you can only repeat the first answer, keep the concept on your review list.
Close the explanation before checking yourself
Read the solution, then put it away and explain the reasoning from memory. If you get stuck, reopen the explanation, repair the missing step and try again later with a fresh item.
In controlled learning experiments, Roediger and Karpicke found better delayed retention after retrieval practice than repeated study. Those experiments concerned prose learning; they do not establish a guaranteed entrance-exam score gain. They support using recall as part of review rather than relying only on rereading.
Review the pattern once a week
Count the labels that recur. If most errors come from reading conditions, doing more formula drills may not address the real problem. If you repeatedly miss one foundation, pause and relearn it before adding speed.
Mark an entry as improving when you can explain and apply the idea to another example. Reopen it if the mistake returns. The notebook is a working tool, not a record of failure.
Pair this with the 30-day review plan, or try the active-recall routine during your next short session.
Common questions
Should I copy every question into my error notebook?
No. A question reference and your own short description are usually enough. Keep the reason for the error and the corrected idea. Avoid copying or redistributing copyrighted question banks.
Should I record questions I guessed correctly?
Yes, if you cannot explain the answer. Mark them as uncertain rather than mastered, then test the same concept with a fresh example.
When should I review the log?
Pick a manageable time in a later study session, then revisit persistent errors again. The next-day and weekend checks in this guide are a convenient routine, not a universally optimal schedule.
Sources & further reading
Sources checked for this guide on October 29, 2026. Admissions requirements can change; confirm your application cycle with the university.
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