How To Make An Error Log for GMAT Preparation?
After all this hard work, another unsuccessful GMAT attempt literally leaves you crestfallen! Is this you? Don’t get discouraged! Instead, try to identify the root cause of why you are lagging behind the rest.
One of the most effective ways to diagnose your weaknesses and strengthen your proficiencies simultaneously is by maintaining an Error Log. Error Logs help GMAT aspirants identify their mistakes, maximise their potential, and track their performance. To better understand their use, registering with an accredited GMAT coaching center in Delhi will help channel efforts made in the right direction. Here’s everything you need to know about how to create and use a GMAT Error Log.
What is a GMAT Error Log?
A GMAT Error Log is prepared in a spreadsheet format where you register your responses to every question attempted while preparing for GMAT. You actually do so in a detailed manner, including when you attempted the question, how you did it, and the time consumed while analysing your performance all along.
Whether using practice tests, the official GMAT guides, or relying on online GMAT resources, maintaining an error log helps identify recurring patterns and pinpoint areas for improvement.
Why Maintain an Error Log?
Using an error log can be considered similar to keeping track of your practice sessions. Maintaining an Error Log during GMAT coaching aids in
For Identifying Weaknesses:
Find out which GMAT sections or question types put you in the most trouble. This will help you redirect efforts towards achieving a good GMAT score.
Understanding the Nature of the Errors:
You get to evaluate each mistake and ensure you don’t repeat it. An Error Log lets you pick out conceptual gaps, careless slip, misreadings, as well as time-related constraints and their impact on your final performance.
Improving Efficiency:
A well-maintained Error Log helps in recognising repeated patterns in pacing, accuracy and decision-making capabilities. Thus, aspirants can fine-tune their approach to obtain a good score on the GMAT exam.
Tracking Progress over Time:
An Error Log can be considered equivalent to a performance journal. Observing fewer mistakes occurring over time is a powerful motivator and proof of improvement.
Building Resilience:
Reviewing past errors trains your brain to identify traps and whizz past them, making you more adaptable under pressure.
The GMAT Error Log Format
An Error Log used in GMAT preparation must be structured like a spreadsheet or Excel sheet. The most apt format to follow when recording your responses is shared below:
SNo. | Column | Details | For Example |
1. | Identifying the Question Source | Where did the question you just solved come from? Helps track the reliability of practice material and identify trends. | (e.g., Magoosh Practice Test 1, Official Guide 2024) |
2. | Question Number/ID | Note down the unique identifier. | (e.g., page number and question number from a specific book or online ID). |
3. | Date & Time Attempted | When did you attempt the question? This helps in monitoring progress over time. | (e.g., 5/06/2024 at 12 p.m.) |
4. | Section | Which section of the GMAT is it from? | (For example, out of the three sections, it belongs to which one: Quantitative, Verbal, or Data Insights?) |
5. | Question Type | Classify the type of question. Adding specificity helps determine areas | (e.g., Problem Solving, Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning). |
6. | Difficulty Level | if identifiable, so that you can estimate the time required | (e.g., Easy, Medium, Hard) |
7. | Main Topic | Take note of the main concept being tested. | (e.g., Algebra, Geometry, Sentence Correction, Inference) |
8. | Secondary Topic ( if any) | Any secondary concept involved or overlapping the core concept, | Number Properties + Inequalities / RC passage on Economics with Inference Q |
9. | Was it Correct? | State whether you solved it correctly, guessed partially right or incorrect. | Yes/No |
10. | If Correct, Solved or Guessed? | Did you actively solve it or just guess? How sure were you? This helps in creating a clear demarcation between strong conceptual knowledge and lucky guesses. | (e.g., solved confidently in 1:45 minutes, guessed between two close answers) |
11. | If Incorrect, Reason for Mistake | Why did you get it wrong? | (e.g., conceptual gap, careless error, misinterpretation, or something else) |
12. | Time Spent | How much time did you spend on the question? (time constraint or question difficulty, helpful for pacing analysis) | (e.g., 3:20 minutes (too long for a PS Q) |
13. | Notes/Explanation Summary | Briefly note the correct solution and why you got it wrong, and the key takeaways for the future. | (e.g., the correct approach, the concept to revise and where you wasted time) |
How to Use Your GMAT Error Log Effectively
To make the most of a GMAT Error Log:
Start with a Diagnostic Test
Begin your GMAT with a diagnostic test to understand your baseline. Record each question you attempt in the error log as per the format shared to gauge your strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the day, an error log truly depicts where you stand, also providing a roadmap for improvement.
Log All Questions
Don’t just jot down questions from the official GMAT materials in the Error Log, but keep track of everything you attempt. The list includes
- Full-length practice tests,
- Individual problem sets, and
- Random questions from online forums or apps.
Please note that the more data you gather, the clearer you can mark the trajectory towards improvement.
Review Immediately
Immediately review your performance after each study session. Analyse your mistakes and perform a gap assessment. Try to find out whether they are repeating errors due to a conceptual divide, a careless misstep, or a pacing issue. Not sure? Seek explanations from mentors and friends in your GMAT online coaching or watch video tutorials to reinforce your understanding of core concepts.
Analyse at All Fronts
Consistently review your error log to look for patterns. A deeper analysis of repeating mistakes, along with probing your strengths and weaknesses, will take you closer to obtaining a good GMAT score. Ask yourself…
- Are you consistently making the same mistakes?
- Is there any similarity between them?
- Can you notice any recurring topics or question types that challenge you?
- Are errors becoming more common in questions solved under time pressure?
Then, the above-mentioned areas are where your efforts must be aligned for targeted practice.
Segment Questions into Various Types
Breakdown errors by type and section. For instance,
- Try to find out if you are struggling more with quantitative reasoning. If yes, then is it problem-solving or data sufficiency?
- Similarly, try to determine which aspect of verbal reasoning needs more attention (reading comprehension vs. sentence correction vs critical reasoning).
- With context to data insights what do you find most difficult to cope with, multi-source analysis, table analysis, or graphics interpretation?
This breakdown helps you understand where you lack and what you need to improve to obtain a good GMAT score.
Time Management Under Pressure
A precisely maintained Error Log showcases if you spend more time than required on a certain question or are making mistakes because you are rushing through some, as the exam nears its end! In this case, consider adjusting your pacing strategy.
- Set benchmarks and use the error log to flag questions where you exceeded the allotted time limit.
- Identify questions on which you are usually spending more time and prepare shortcuts for these.
- Simultaneously Review Efficiency and Accuracy to get through the GMAT in your next attempt.
Targeted Practice is the Key
Use insights from the log to improvise your study sessions. In case findings indicate conceptual weaknesses in algebra or sentence correction, practice more specific question types belonging to that segment. If you are repeating careless mistakes, practice mindfulness and pay attention to detail when practicing official mock tests at home.
Maximise Your GMAT Score with an Error Log
The purpose behind maintaining an Error Log is not only to monitor errors but actively learn from them. Make it a practice to refer to the Error Log throughout practice sessions to make your preparation more strategic, efficient, and introspective. A comprehensive, well-structured Error Log will show you exactly where you need to improve over time, allowing you to effectively work on your shortcomings with targeted practice.
The process of logging and reviewing is an ongoing cycle where every mistake made is a learning opportunity and every attempt takes you one step closer to mastering the GMAT. So, next time you take a practice test, make sure to log every question and come back to review it after every session.
Attempt → Log → Review → Improve → Repeat
An Error Log isn’t just a tool; it is a powerful weapon and your best friend in this GMAT journey. Using it diligently will guide you in your preparation towards a higher GMAT score.
Hence, keep logging, keep learning, and keep improving! Take the help of your mentors at your GMAT online coaching center in Delhi to effectively use an Error Log.
Here’s a ready-to-use Error Log Example Template for you to copy:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rj-D3X6mIj2niVhhAvjAGzVlhJDQFnKEn6k-ZFb88ns/edit?gid=0#gid=0