Studying CR and RC mistakes

[AceTheGM@]

Hi! I'm having a bit of trouble studying CR and RC and am hoping you can help. Across all categories, I make a log of question types and numbers that I've gotten wrong. It's easiest for me to redo math problems down the road because I force myself to redo the problem and write out the solution. How do I do the same for CR or RC? I seem to have a magical ability to remember what the answer was for that exact question. However, I have trouble with the broader takeaway of [why that answer was correct. I can look at a question a few weeks later and remember the correct letter answer more than you'd expect. What's the best way to remember the takeaways from what I got wrong on these question types and to test if I can really apply what I've supposedly just learned?

[StaceyKoprince]

Pretend you have to explain it to someone else. Can you?

It doesn't matter that you remember that the answer is B. Your real test is: can you explain how to read the argument - what's the conclusion, what are the premises, etc? Can you explain how to read the passage - what's the main point and the purpose of each paragraph?

Can you explain why B is the right answer and why ACDE aren't? Can you explain why someone might pick ACDE? What are the traps? Can you explain why someone might think B is wrong, even though it's right?

Pretend to teach it to someone else. Say it out loud. That way, you'll "hear" when you're giving an answer that doesn't really make sense / you don't really understand. :)

If you can find someone to study with, you can take turns doing this. Sometimes, you can go online and try to answer someone else who's asking a question. Take a stab at it, then check that whole thread to see whether a teacher has answered - see what s/he says.

Make yourself articulate why and you'll be a lot more likely to be able to re-use that line of thinking on other similar questions.