The Competition is finished. Here's a list of Error Logs of all times .

How to use & Purpose

The purpose of an error log is to keep track of your mistakes. You can use one of these fancy spreadsheets, you can use your own doc, GMAT ToolKit, or you can just mark the questions you got wrong in your book. The goal is the same - to build a list of questions that are problematic for you. Usually, you would exclude anything that you have missed by pure careless error (for example, confused answer choices) but you do want to have here all other questions you missed. Why? Because these questions are what you want to review at the end of the week and perhaps every month. You also want to save them for the last week (especially the ones that you missed twice).

If one of these spreadsheets is too fancy for you, just get your own error log/timer/etc - the key is to keep track of your weaknesses and mistakes and then to attack them. No spreadsheet can do the studying for you though.

Error Logs

1. Error Logs by Saruba
   
   • Download Excel 2007 version
   • Download Excel 2003 version
2. Error Logs by Saruba+Spoilt+Trianglock
   
   • Download Excel 2007 version
   • Download Excel 2003 version
3. Error Logs by Spoilt
   
   • Download Excel 2007 version
   • Download Excel 2003 version
4. Error Logs by Trianglock
   
   • Download Excel 2007 version
   • Download Excel 2003 version

There is also a built-in Error log in the GMAT Club Forum
No downloading, No manual work - it tracks your progress automatically when you solve questions on this forum and gives you the results. Learn more about the Forum Timer






Existing Error logs and resources you may want to use to create/revise your error log:
new-gmat-practice-grid-11448.html
all-about-the-error-log-11754.html
gmat-club-guide-to-the-gmat-official-guide-12th-ed-85956.html
error-log-template-online-68055.html
standardizing-error-taxonomy-template-added-84791.html
error-log-tool-8717.html
gmat-timer-56014.html





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Thanks.

By the way, I did a save as and was able to save it as 300kb file instead of 1MB - Office 2007 version though.
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Thanks bb,

New Version of Error Log attached : I have protected source code of this excel till 17th Nov '09. I will provide final version with source code by 17th Nov '09.

I am unable to attach Office 2007 format file.

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My bad - I added xlsm extension to the allowable list.
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Sorry guys a bit busy

Attached new version 0.0.4

I would really like to receive suggestions from you. Please do not hesitate to send me PM, if you have some suggestion.

Rate: [rating1]yellow/647103[/rating1]

Office 2007 file:

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Updated version: 0.0.5

Added much needed button to clear log.
Rate: [rating1]yellow/647103[/rating1]

Office 2007 file:

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Here is my entry.


I created this Error Log to help in my own GMAT studying and the tools in it were features which were very helpful to me. I tried to keep it as simple as possible and to minimize the amount of inputs for the user but also provide maximum utility. I knowingly did not add functionality to analyze specific types of problems (algebra, arithmetic, percents, strengthen argument, etc) as I found the data entry needed to analyze the results was too time consuming. I felt that time could be better utilized elsewhere - like doing more problems. I also did not add any fancy macros as it has been my experience that sometimes those things can crash your program depending on your computer.

Instead I focused on creating something where you could quickly find the problems you should revisit based on a few criteria: 1) Accuracy; 2) Speed; and 3) Comfort Level with each answer. These were critical things to me as I obviously wanted to review problems I got wrong but I also wanted to review problems that took me too long to solve or questions where I might have just gotten lucky by guessing.

I hope many/someone out there find(s) it useful. If there are enough requests and it is easy enough I will try to provide a copy for Apple users (I own an Apple but I use the Windows side of it for all MS Office stuff - dont like the Apple versions of Excel or Word). The file is open for all to see the coding.

Updated version: 0.0.6

Improved performance. It's much faster now. More to come (I hope).

Rate: Rate: [rating1]yellow/647103[/rating1]

Office 2007:

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The error log I used for my prep.

Final version, it has gone through all the necessary QA.



[rating1]green/653191[/rating1]
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Here is my contribution to this cool contest.

I focused on building a user-friendly and simple to use application , rather than cracking hundreds of functions. Honestly, an error log won't make you any better by itself, it only will tell you in which areas you must work harder and in which areas you are rocking the house. And that's what my proposal does, no more no less.

I used similar colors to those of GMAT Club in order to help people feel comfortable using it while they spend the hours cracking questions through the forums.

Finally, my gmat exam is TOMORROW(!) so I hadn't plenty of time to do this. It's not an excuse for the contest, rather a promise that I will make it better afterwards. Some areas that can get improved are:
1) More thorough database
2) CAT-Specific sections
3) Decent help section
4) You decide it!

When the contest ended I'll open a new ""official"" threat for those who will be using it and want to implement some improvements.

So that's it:

Friendly Error Log v1 by Saruba


*Several warnings prompted up when saving the 2003 version, I'm not sure if it'll work fine!
[rating1]red/653249[/rating1]
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Hey guys...made a couple changes / edits. First - had to change the dark red coloring and other formatting (was going for Harvard colors but I dont think it looks too good in excel). Second - needed to fix a formula. Third - created button to link to each source's performance report (before I dont think it was obvious that it was there). Fourth - created more tabs (reduced the default amount of questions from 2000 to 1000 to save space). Lastly, I made an xlsx version.

Enjoy.

[rating1]black/653347[/rating1]

Version with source code:


Office 2007:

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Good work TRIANGLOCK.

I made a small change to this entry :
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Thank you guys!

I liked both Saruba's and TRIANGLOCK's work, though preferred Saruba's one. They both deserve access to GMAT Club Challenges at least

Saruba
You're having D-Day today, aren't you?!

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PS I've just seen Spoilt's version too. It's very very good. All of these 3 users have made great contributions to site.

True , TRIANGLOCK did good job for me.

I would like to quote Saruba's work is incomplete - It's just a template and don't have any fuctional value at the end of competition.

After competition is over - anyone not only me , TRIANGLOCK but any GMATcluber can update and produce better version but that will not be a fair competition - Log must be functional at the end of competition.

But I really appreciate Saruba's work - Though useless for the fair competition. (But Saruba deserves access to GMAT Club Challenges at least)
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"Error log is one of the most essential and important tools in GMAT prep. Do you use one? Have a good template? Have good ideas to create one? You may be in for some money"

Yes I use one. Yes I have one. Yes I do have some ideas. I can't see where he says that in order to participate in the contest the error log must have a functional value. By the way, what do you mean with functional value? A 'Clear log' button? How on earth will I want to erase all the entries that took me hours to introduce? A "Planner"? There are thousands of applications far better than that. Auto-increment? This is what I call useless.
A 'Hit Rate' bar graph just aside the table that shows the same information? The mess of having Quant and Verbal questions mixed together? Is this your concept of funcionality? Sorry, I don't agree with you.

Don't get me wrong, but what i think is really unfair is that you decide who is out of the competition.
My error log is usable as is, all I said is that for folks who like it and will be using it, I would improve it, AS A FAVOR, following their suggestions.

The value of my error log is its simple, clear, well-structured and user-friendly interface. If you don't value these aspects it's fine for me, but is the jury who will decide about these matters, not you.

As a bottomline, I had access to GMAT Club Tests thanks to other contributions I made to this community so I didn't participate for that and neither for the money (I have a job). I made this because I'd have never achieved a score of 700 without GMAT Club Tests and its support forums, so I feel in debt with this community.

Thanks for those who asked about my D-day, as I wrote above I got a 700. Will write a detailed debrief soon.

@HopefulOldie I protected it for the contest, I will soon publish it free but for now you can unlock it with the password '8887'.
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Dear all,

I made changes to Error to include GMATClub Logo. Changed Name to GMATCLub Error Log V1. Everyone can change it to contribute !!!

Clear log button can be removed later - It is just to clear the already present sample values.

BB Please don't consider it my entry for Competition.


Office 2007:

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BB - Any good news for us yet? Understand the work thing though.

In the spirit of collaboration now that the competition deadline has passed, I put together something which in my opinion takes some of the best features from each competitors log and aggregates it all into 1.

I have completed roughly half of it (only the quant side) and wanted to see what people thought before proceeding to code the verbal side as well.

Summary of New Error Log

1. I usually pride myself on being the best at making documents look pretty (former IBanker mentality) but Saruba by far had the best interface in my opinion. Great design and usability for the average person. So I grabbed a little bit of that.
2. Organizing the logs into quant/verbal made some sense to me. Mostly I liked how you had 2 logs and 2 corresponding reports. Another Saruba contribution that I borrowed.
3. Even though Spoilts Planner got bashed in a previous reply - I actually liked that feature. I know sometimes I like to set goals for myself as it pertains to the GMAT (i.e. how many questions per day, how long studying, when I take practice tests) and it helps to have it all rolled up into your error log.
4. The db I borrowed a bit from everyone.
5. I liked my highlighting tool. Helps me to quickly see the questions I need to review and spend more time on based on different criteria.

There are probably others to see but I'll leave a bit of mystery so you download it.

PS - 1 Hint. There is a lot of coding that can slow it down so i suggest turning your calcs to manual so it doesnt hinder your data entry and just press f9 whenever you need to calculate.

Good . I have some suggestions : Sorry I dont have enough time to update.

1. Performace is too slow, it is because we are using some calculations that can be done in a better and efficient way.
2. For validation(drop down list) we are using db sheet reference - that is very inefficient method: Suggestion (make the range in the db with name - check Spoilt Error log "Lists" sheet ) add list validation '=<RangeName>' e.g. '=OA'.
3. use alternate colour for combination of cells.


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First of all - I want to thank everyone who participated - Spoilt, Trianglock, Saruba, and Mohater.
I have enabled access to the tests to those of you who are still planning to take the GMAT.

Based on the criteria put forth:
- Features, Functionality, and Usability of the final product as judged by gmat club mods and admins
- Effort as judged by gmat club mods and admins
- Quality and professionalism of the template as judged by gmat club mods and admins
- Design and layout
- Member votes
- Simplicity (Apple iPod approach to design and usability)

It was not easy to judge these but I am happy to announce that after a lengthy review (sorry) Saruba is the official winner.
His/her error log won not by functionality but rather simplicity and design/layout. In my opinion it was the most inviting and encouraging tool to get a novice started. Other error logs may be more sophisticated or have more features, and useful to experienced users but at the same time, may intimidate those who have just started. It was also one of the smaller ones in size.

Again, thank you everyone for participation - it was great to see the joint community error log at the end.
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