The student makes an error by using which of the following verb tenses?

The past perfect tense describes actions that were completed before a specific point in the past. The student does not indicate an event that occurred prior to another past action in his statement. Therefore, while the past perfect could be grammatically correct in different contexts, it does not apply to the error made in this case.

The simple past tense is typically used for actions or experiences that have been completed. While the student’s experiences could be expressed using this tense, the error lies in the use of the past progressive. The simple past would be the correct choice to clearly convey the intended meaning, such as "people said."

The past perfect progressive tense indicates an action that was ongoing up until another action in the past. Since the student is not discussing an action that was continuous until another past event, this tense does not apply to the error in the sentence.