All about the Error Log

Dear All

Here is something about the error log and why i think its so important for most of us. I wrote this for one of our members and she said it helped her, so i figured i should post it here.

Think of the error log as a list of problems you definitely want to go over
in your final week of prep. now what might those problems be? let
me offer you a list. please include/exclude according to your
preference.

1. problems you got wrong
2. problems you got right,but with some divine intervention.
(guessing)
3. problems you got wrong in a timed environment. <-- Very very imp.

For each of the above categories, make sure to note down the
software/book in which the problem was there and ofcourse the problem
number. This list, IF done properly, will be the BEST prep material
you will ever find because its customized to help you on your weak
areas. Work on this LIST in your final two weeks along with the
official guide.

Make sure you practise in a timed environment whenever possible. thats
what eventually matters.

keep a spreadsheet and categorize your errors. at the end of every
week, you will see a trend in your errors. analyze, write down a
strategy to eliminate and stick to it.

The idea is that you should never make the same mistake twice
Prepping for long hours will NOT make any sense if we keep repeating
the same mistakes over and over.Use all the advantage you can. and
eliminating silly errors is definitely possible.

Please try to glean concepts from problems rather than worrying about
getting the problems right or wrong. make clear and i mean really clear
notes.

Doesnt sound like fun, isnt it? but my friend, a special score needs
special work. otherwise every third guy would get a 750.

i can tell you right now that in the final week of your prep, your error
log will be the single most important prep tool you can have. when i was
in the final week, i went berserk because i didnt have a good log of my
work. its very very easy to forget what problems you had when you solve
a problem.

Think of how many times we make simple mistakes like overlooking an
important detail or simply misreading a problem etc.

Praetorian

More info... some of it might be reptitive.. but repitition is good.

If you know Praetorian (thats me), you might have seen me talking about the importance of the error log. I cant help but feel that it is the single most important tool for doing well on tests like GMAT. If you are not eliminating your errors as you practice, you are wasting time and losing confidence. you will then tend to increase your prep time by a month just to feel good about the length of prep you had. Thats wrong. Maintain a discipline of identifying your errors at the end of each prep. day and write those down in your error log. No matter how boring this sounds, do it.This error log will be especially useful when you guys are in your final week of prep.

From experience, i can tell you that it is frustrating to decide what problems to go over and where to look for them. Enter the error log. Now is the time that you will feel rewarded for those boring nights when you sat down to record your errors and write explanations for yourself. I am confident that if you have covered every area that is tested on the GMAT thoroughly and if you maintained this discipline of updating and reviewing your error log everyday, your error log is probably the best prep material you can ever develop for yourself. No book, no guide, no software can ever replace notes that you have written for yourself based on your problem areas.

How you maintain your log is up to you.

Come back from the test center and come throw rocks at me if you didnt find the error log useful.

Just my advice, nothing scientific about it.

Here are some templates done by other forum members. But feel free to modify them to your needs.




Error log created by JasonC Online
It's great to use it with GMAT Timer!

The same Error log in Excel but with useful Macros added can be found here - GMAT Practice Grid

There is advanced error log application written in python. Find it here - Error Log Tool
However you must be confident computer user to use it.

hi praet , thanx for the pointers, i've been waiting to hit a 100 and i did it yesterday i will be starting an error log probably tomorrow since i am too sleepy to do it now ; ]]] i've been spending about 2-3 hrs every day [yes i am addicted to it and have refered the forum to all of my friends looking to take the GMAT] on this forum and my CR and SC, as well as quant have significantly improved. this forum has been a saviour and the best prep tool you cannot read in any book. GMATclub.com is by far the greatest collection of great minds and smart people i have ever encountered. thanx for all the help and all you guys do for all of us taking/retaking the exam and working on apps.

Hello Kayser

You are welcome

In my opinion, mutual respect for each other is the heart of this club and all of the credit goes to the members for making the Club a good place. Most people respect a sincere contribution. If we share our knowledge, someone somewhere will RESPECT our contribution enough to share their knowledge with us.

Thanks
Praetorian

hi praet,

speaking of contribution, i am going to make mine before xmas. it may not be much, but as long as it helps maintain, improve and expand the community we're trying to build and establish. i will know it's for a good cause.




kayser
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
verbal kent - keaton used to say, i don't believe in god , but i am afraid of him. well, i do believe in god, and the only thing that scares me is kayser soze.

Hi all, I just discovered this forum while googling. My test is in a week and I haven't had much study time in the past few months because engineering school takes all my time. I am going to use the "Study Plan" which should be a huge help in my final week, but I dont have a very good error log and I am trying to make it better. Except for sentence correction I dont know how to subdivide my errors in the other sections, CR, RC, PS & DS. Any advice? If anyone has an error log I could use I would be so thankful. Thanks in advance ..... This forum seems to be a great resource, I just wish I would have found it earlier

Any updates on the error log?

The other one on the forum is using python, and I am using a Mac (READ: Incompatible).

I agree with the comments of Protean. Error logs will be very helpful as they will help in improving your specific weakness and only you, I emphasize only you, can bring it out. I have just started making a note for self and I find it quite helpful.

Example of error log with attachment

Check the thread with the title above. You will find an example.

Good luck.

Thanks for the error logs. It is surely helpful

thanks for the error log. it's very useful

Thanks , this excel is surely going to help

Thanks!

This is extremely useful advice. I wish I stumbled upon this earlier. In fact, I wish I stumbled upon this site earlier. I think having this error log will be a step in the right direction for improving my score from mid-600 to 700+. Thanks for this. -danswer

The amazing thing is that Praetorian wrote this article in 2004 just when the forum started. I can only imagine the number of people it helped.

I'm sure you'll find a lot of useful information at GMAT Club. Good luck achieving your goal score!

I have started to use an error log..I did not the first time around. However, in retrospect it would have definitely helped if I had a concise list of Qs that were giving me issues. It is a pain in the ... for me, but I know the effort will pay off.

Wonderful Idea!!!

As this is my initial phase of preparation, this will definitely help me in combating errors. Thanks for the post and +1

Thanks a lot for sharing knowledge!

Thanks for putting together all of this.

@timetrader : the post is from 2004 and it post still helps..