Reading · Unit 4: Band 7 to 8.5
R41: Why did I get it wrong? The 3-reason review
Target band 7.5 to 8.5
At band 7 and above, your mistakes are no longer random. They follow patterns. One student keeps misreading questions. Another keeps missing paraphrases. A third rushes the last passage. If you review each mistake properly, you'll find your pattern, and fixing it is the fastest route to band 8.
Why this matters
Checking answers tells you what you got wrong. Reviewing tells you why. Only the "why" helps you improve. Students who review every mistake for a month often find that one or two causes explain most of their lost marks.
The three main reasons
For every wrong answer, choose one main reason:
1. Misread
You misunderstood the question or the passage. Examples:
- You missed a small word like only, not or most.
- You answered about the wrong person or time.
- You read "the writer's view" as "a fact".
2. Missed paraphrase
The answer was there, but you didn't recognise it because the words were different.
- The passage said elderly and the question said older people.
- You were scanning for exact words that never appeared.
3. Time
You didn't have enough time to read carefully, or you guessed.
- You rushed the last block of Passage 3.
- You spent too long on one question and guessed later ones.
Two extra labels, if needed
- Vocabulary: you didn't know a key word.
- Careless: you knew the answer but made a slip (wrong box, spelling, word limit).
How to do the review
After each practice test:
- For each wrong answer, find the exact proof in the passage.
- Compare it with your answer. Ask: "Why didn't I see this?"
- Write one label: Misread, Paraphrase, Time, Vocabulary or Careless.
- Write one sentence about what you'll do differently.
| Q | My answer | Correct | Reason | Next time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | TRUE | FALSE | Misread | Highlight all, some, only |
| 22 | C | B | Paraphrase | Match meaning, not words |
| 38 | NOT GIVEN | NO | Time | Leave 23 minutes for Passage 3 |
What the pattern tells you
| Most common reason | What to work on |
|---|---|
| Misread | Slow down on questions; highlight qualifiers (R31) |
| Paraphrase | Paraphrase tables after each test (R32) |
| Time | Time plan and checkpoints (R07, R18) |
| Vocabulary | Academic words and daily reading (R34, R40) |
| Careless | 60-second final check (R19) |
Try it yourself
Which reason?
- The question said "the main cause". You chose a cause mentioned in the passage, but not the main one.
- You ran out of time and guessed the last four questions.
- The passage said "a significant decline". The question said "a big drop". You didn't connect them.
Show the answers
1) Misread. 2) Time. 3) Paraphrase.
Honest note
Sometimes the reason is a mix. Choose the main one. The goal isn't perfect labelling. It's finding a pattern you can fix.
Your task today
Review your last practice test with the 3-reason method. Count the labels.