Error Analysis

I don’t know about spring weather, but test prep season is here!  Despite all of my good intentions to stay relaxed about testing, I can feel my shoulders tensing and the pressure building as the dates of our high stakes test get closer and closer. I KNOW that my students understand the content, but they are still so easily tricked by distractor answers in multiple choice tests. It’s frustrating to watch my students struggle with multiple choice tests, because I want them to shine on their state test, which is primarily multiple choice. Not to mention that part of my evaluation and my school’s ranking is determined by our test scores. {No pressure, right?}

A couple of weeks ago, I had a brainstorm that turned into a strategy that I’m LOVING!  I’m using an error analysis graphic organizer to help prepare my students for their big test. We use the graphic organizer with multiple choice tests, students must first restate the question in their own words and provide the correct answer. I want students to give the correct answer, because I feel that it’s important to not lose sight of what’s right when analyzing what is wrong. Students then find the error in the three remaining answer choices and describe the error, as well as show how to correct the error.

This is not a particularly quick activity, and requires a lot of thought from students, but it has been so beneficial. My students are becoming better and better at spotting common error patterns and mistakes. It also helps students see the need to slow down and not rush through seemingly easy questions.

The graphic organizer can be used in many different ways, but I’m using it as a follow-up activity to our Friday morning work.  My students complete a page from my Super Testers activity on Friday morning, and while they’re at their specials class, I grade the assessments.  Then, I organize students into groups based on what problems they missed.

I assign each group a particular problem, and they complete the error analysis graphic organizer using their assigned problem.  They record the problem number at the top of the page and restate the question and write the correct answer.  Then, they have to describe the error in the three incorrect answer choices and explain WHY the answer is wrong.

Before having my students complete any of these error analysis sheets independently, I made sure to model how to complete it several times.  It took a little practice before my students got the hang of it.  It was a lot of work for my students to be able to explain WHY an answer was incorrect, but after some practice it started clicking for them.

I’ve also used the error analysis graphic organizer with my Test Prep Task Cards as a math work station activity.  I have my students select one of the task cards to take through the entire error analysis process and then use the rest of their station time to work on the remaining task cards.  The test prep task cards are great for error analysis, since they’re written in a multiple choice format.  You can also grab a copy of the error analysis form by clicking on its picture below!