I haven't spend as much time as needed.

[svetlana14]

I have to answer the following questions. Why do you think you were less successful? What went wrong? I have prepared the following answer.

1. I haven't spent as much time as needed.
2. I failed to do it regularly.
3. I haven't worked effectively, setting and achieving the realistic tasks.
4. I haven't worked through my mistakes.

How could I sound more natural (sitting in an English bar with an old friend of mine, rather than discussing such stuff with students, using standard dialogues)?

 

[Barque]

I didn't spend as much time on it as I should have.
I wasn't regular.
I didn't set myself realistic targets.
I didn't learn from my mistakes.

 

[emsr2d2]

I have to answer the following questions.

@svetlana14 Why do you have to answer them? Who is making you do this?

 

[svetlana14]

@svetlana14 Why do you have to answer them? Who is making you do this?

It's from Adanced English C.A.E. 1999 by Sue O'Connell. Part 1. Use your head. Exercise 1.2. Think of something you had less success in learning (maybe at school). Why do you think you were less successful? What went wrong?

 

[Rover_KE]

That doesn't answer emsr2d2's question.

 

[svetlana14]

That doesn't answer emsr2d2's question.

It is me who wishes to explain a friend of mine the result of my analysis of the factors preventing me to have a successful story.

 

[emsr2d2]

Are you just doing exercises from a text book at home in your spare time then?

 

[svetlana14]

Are you just doing exercises from a text book at home in your spare time then?

Yes. I am struggling to do.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes. I am struggling to do them.

 

[Tdol]

How about:
3. I haven't worked effectively, not setting and achieving realistic tasks.

 

[Barque]

The "not" seems out of place there to me.

Perhaps you meant "I haven't worked effectively, setting and completing realistic tasks".