15.3 Mixed-Question Review Log
Key Takeaways
- A final review log should record why each missed question happened, not just whether the answer was wrong.
- GED mixed practice should include subject, skill, source type, timing, confidence, error cause, and a repair action.
- The highest-value misses are repeated patterns across subjects, such as misreading graphs, overlooking evidence, or rushing calculator entries.
- Review is complete only when the student can redo the problem, explain the correct rule, and answer a near-transfer question.
- A mixed-question log helps prevent final prep from becoming four isolated study plans with the same mistakes repeated in each subject.
Track The Reason, Not Just The Result
In the final GED stretch, a wrong answer is useful only if it tells you what to repair. A mixed-question review log is a one-page system for turning missed Math, RLA, Science, and Social Studies questions into focused action. The goal is not to collect mistakes. The goal is to stop the same mistake from moving between subjects.
The Log Format
Use one row per missed or guessed question. Include questions you got right only by luck, because lucky answers can hide weak skills.
| Field | What To Record | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Math, RLA, Science, or Social Studies | Science |
| Skill | The tested skill, not the chapter title | Interpret a data table |
| Source Type | Passage, graph, experiment, equation, source document | Bar graph |
| Time | Too fast, on pace, or too slow | Too fast |
| Confidence | High, medium, low | High but wrong |
| Error Cause | Why the miss happened | Read the wrong axis |
| Repair Action | What you will do next | 10 graph questions, axis labels first |
The most important field is error cause. Do not write "careless" unless you can name the careless behavior. Better labels are "ignored units," "picked opposite claim," "distributed only first term," "used outside information," "did not compare answer choices," or "ran out of time and guessed."
Cross-Subject Error Categories
Many GED misses are not truly subject-specific. Reading a graph in Science and reading a graph in Social Studies use similar habits. Finding evidence in RLA and identifying support in a historical source also overlap.
| Error Category | Shows Up In | Repair Drill |
|---|---|---|
| Misread labels or units | Math, Science, Social Studies | Circle title, axis, units before solving |
| Outside knowledge over evidence | RLA, Science, Social Studies | Underline the exact sentence or data point |
| Calculator entry mistake | Math, Science, Social Studies | Write expression first, then enter once |
| Opposite answer choice | RLA, Social Studies | Predict answer before reading choices |
| Time spiral | All subjects | Flag, move, and return with remaining time |
The Three-Step Review Rule
A missed question is not repaired when you read the explanation. It is repaired when you can complete three steps.
- Redo: Work the question again without looking at the answer.
- Explain: Say the rule, evidence, or graph feature that proves the answer.
- Transfer: Solve a similar question with different numbers, wording, or source material.
If you cannot do the transfer step, the skill is not stable yet. Put it on the next day's short drill list.
How To Use The Log During Final Week
Review the log every two days. Count repeated error causes, then choose the top three. Those are your final-week priorities. If the same cause appears in more than one subject, fix it before adding new content. For example, a student who keeps choosing answers that are true but not supported by the passage should practice evidence selection in RLA, Science, and Social Studies, not only read another history summary.
A Sample Log Entry
| Subject | Skill | Error Cause | Repair Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math | Slope from graph | Used rise/run backward | 8 slope questions, label vertical change first |
| RLA | Main claim | Picked a detail instead of whole argument | Write one-sentence main idea before choices |
| Science | Experiment conclusion | Ignored control group | Identify independent, dependent, and control first |
| Social Studies | Source evidence | Used personal knowledge | Quote the source line before answering |
The review log should stay small enough to use. A messy notebook full of copied explanations will not help under the official timer. A short list of repeatable behaviors will. By the time you schedule, your log should show fewer repeated causes, faster repair, and clearer explanations. That is a better readiness signal than simply saying, "I studied all week."
Which entry is most useful in a GED mixed-question review log?
A student misses RLA, Science, and Social Studies questions because they choose answers that sound true but are not supported by the passage or source. What should the review log prioritize?