Most 11+ families keep scores. Far fewer keep mistakes in a useful form. That is a missed opportunity, because the same five error patterns can quietly cost a child marks across dozens of papers.
An error log is simply a record of what went wrong, why it went wrong and what will be done differently next time. It can be a notebook, spreadsheet or one-page table. The format matters less than the habit.
What to record
For each useful mistake, write:
- date and paper;
- subject/topic;
- short description of the question;
- error type;
- corrected rule or method;
- date to revisit.
Do not copy the entire question. The log should be quick enough to maintain.
Use four error categories
A practical classification is:
Answer transfer only becomes a category if the paper uses a separate answer sheet, so confirm the format your child will actually sit. check the 11+ exam formats
Knowledge: “I did not know how to find a percentage of an amount.”
Reading: “I missed the word ‘not’.”
Process: “I knew the method but skipped a step.”
Timing: “I spent too long here and left later questions unfinished.”
You can add answer transfer if your child's exam uses a separate multiple-choice sheet and that is a recurring issue.
Why categories matter
Imagine a child loses eight marks on a mock. If six are knowledge gaps, the next week needs teaching. If six are misreads, another workbook may not help; the child needs a reading and checking routine.
The score says “minus eight”. The error log says what to do on Monday.
Add a “fix” column
Every logged mistake should end with an action. Examples:
- practise ten fraction-of-an-amount questions;
- underline negative words in the next two papers;
- learn the clockwise/anticlockwise rotation check;
- skip after 60 seconds and return later;
- review five vocabulary words in context.
This keeps the log practical rather than becoming a scrapbook of failure.
Revisit old mistakes
Once a week, pick three old entries and ask the child to explain the rule or solve a similar question.
If the same mistake returns, it is still active. If the child can explain and apply the fix independently, mark it as secure.
This gives children visible evidence that weaknesses can disappear.
Keep the tone clinical
An error log should never contain comments such as “silly”, “lazy” or “should know”. Record behaviour precisely: “did not convert minutes to hours” is useful; “careless again” is not.
The aim is to reduce shame and increase pattern recognition.
Use the log to choose worksheets
At the end of each week, look for repeated topics. If fractions appear four times, select fraction practice. If inference appears repeatedly, choose comprehension work. If timing dominates, move towards timed sections.
EduArchives' worksheet library is organised by subject and difficulty, making it easy to connect a logged weakness with focused practice.
A simple template
Use these headings:
Paper | Topic | What went wrong | Error type | Fix | Recheck date | Secure?
That is enough. A tool that takes thirty seconds per mistake is more likely to be used than a beautiful system that takes ten minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Should every wrong answer go in the error log?
No. Record repeated, revealing or high-value mistakes. Logging every tiny slip can make the system too heavy.
Should parents write the log or the child?
A younger child may need help, but involve them in identifying why the error happened. Older children can take more ownership.
How long should we keep entries?
Keep them until the exam or until the pattern is clearly secure. Old entries are useful for final revision because they show the child's personal danger areas.