Keeping an Error Log: Learning from Mistakes in SPM Principles of Accounting

When a Principles of Accounting exercise comes back, most students glance at the mark, sigh for a moment, file the paper away, and move straight on to the next topic. Unfortunately, the same mistakes then reappear in the real exam, because they were never understood, let alone corrected.

An error log is a simple but powerful way to break this cycle. It is a dedicated notebook (or digital file) where you record every mistake you make, why it happened, and how to solve it correctly. For a procedure-heavy subject like Principles of Accounting, with its fixed formats and layered concepts, this habit can lift your marks noticeably because it targets the source of your weaknesses instead of repeating drills blindly.

What is an error log?

An error log is a personal record of every question you answer incorrectly, whether in homework, monthly tests, or practice sets. Unlike simply checking answers, the log forces you to rewrite the question, your wrong answer, the correct answer, and, most importantly, the reason for the mistake.

The goal is not to punish yourself but to collect patterns. After a few weeks, you will clearly see which areas consistently trip you up, for example the debit and credit direction for drawings, or the treatment of bad debts versus provision for doubtful debts.

Why accounting mistakes tend to repeat

Principles of Accounting is layered. The accounting equation and double entry underpin the journal, the ledger, the trial balance, and finally the financial statements. If one foundational concept is shaky, the same mistake spreads through every higher topic that depends on it.

Many marks are also lost not because a student misunderstands, but through carelessness: a wrong format, an item placed in the Income Statement instead of the Statement of Financial Position, or a forgotten year-end adjustment. These are ideal to log, because they become easy to avoid once you recognise the pattern.

What to record for each mistake

For each entry, use these columns so the log stays short and useful: date, topic, a brief version of the question, my wrong answer, the correct answer, and the reason for the error. That last column matters most.

For example: Topic Adjustments, a question on prepaid expenses. Wrong answer: added to the expense. Correct answer: deducted from the expense and recorded as a current asset. Reason for error: confused the direction of the adjustment. Writing the reason in your own words makes your brain process the mistake far more deeply than merely reading a marking scheme.

Separate careless errors from concept errors

Tag each entry as C (careless) or K (concept). Careless errors include miscalculations, copying a figure wrongly, or leaving out a statement heading. Concept errors mean you did not understand the principle, such as not knowing that depreciation appears in both the Income Statement and the Statement of Financial Position.

This split matters because the remedy differs. Careless errors are reduced through checklists and disciplined reviewing. Concept errors require you to return to your notes, understand the reasoning behind the procedure, and attempt several similar questions until you are confident.

Topics that trigger the most mistakes

From teaching experience, student logs usually fill up in the same areas: double entry for less common transactions, year-end adjustments (accrued expenses, revenue received in advance, depreciation, bad debts and provisions), debtors and creditors control accounts, bank reconciliation statements, and correction of errors using the general journal and the suspense account.

If one topic keeps appearing in your log, that is a clear signal to give it extra attention, rather than re-drilling topics you already know well. The log lets you prioritise your study based on evidence, not feelings.

A schedule for reviewing your log

A log only works if you reread it on a schedule. A simple plan: review new entries every weekend, and before each test, try to redo the questions you once got wrong without looking at the answers.

When you can solve a question correctly two or three times in a row, mark it as mastered. This spaced-review approach is far more effective than rereading notes repeatedly, because it tests your active recall precisely where you are weak.

Turning the log into an exam checklist

A few weeks before the exam, condense your log into a one-page checklist. Turn each error pattern into a short reminder, for example: double-check the debit/credit direction for drawings, make sure depreciation appears in both statements, write full headings and the period for every financial statement.

Read this checklist just before attempting a practice paper. It trains your mind to avoid past mistakes automatically. Remember that the SPM Principles of Accounting paper is set in Bahasa Melayu, so make sure the terms in your log and checklist are also accurate in Bahasa Melayu.

How we help

We offer online 1-to-1 lessons for SPM Principles of Accounting (SPM code 3756) with experienced teachers.

Your teacher can go through your error log with you, find the cause of each recurring mistake and set similar questions until it stops happening.

You start with one paid one-hour trial at the teacher's rate (from RM50/hr); we share the exact rate on WhatsApp.

FAQ

Should the log be handwritten or digital? Both work well. Handwriting aids memory, while a digital file is easy to search and organise. Choose whichever you will keep using.

How often should I update the log? Every time you review incorrect work. A few minutes each practice session is enough; consistency matters more than perfection.

Does this replace practising questions? No. The log complements practice by ensuring you learn from every mistake, so each hour of practice gives a higher return.