Exit Ticket
Class Size
Individual
Time
3-5 min
Technology
None
Domain
Cognitive
Difficulty
Beginner
Delivery
Face-to-Face, Online, Hybrid
Overview
A brief closing activity where students respond to a prompt on a small slip of paper before leaving class. The teacher collects and reviews them to assess understanding.
Educational Purpose
Provides immediate formative assessment data. You know exactly who understood the lesson and who needs help -- before students leave and before you plan the next lesson.
Educational Psychology Behind It
Formative assessment research (Black and Wiliam, 1998). The act of retrieving information strengthens memory. Exit tickets make learning visible to the teacher.
Why It Works
Formative assessment research (Black and Wiliam, 1998). The act of retrieving information strengthens memory. Exit tickets make learning visible to the teacher.
When to Use It
At the end of every lesson. This is your daily formative assessment. Use it consistently, not occasionally.
When NOT to Use It
Do not make it a quiz with a grade -- that raises anxiety and defeats the purpose. Do not skip it when you are running late -- it takes 3 minutes and is the most important assessment you will do all day.
Best Grade Levels
All grades (K-12)
Best Subjects
All subjects
Step-by-Step Classroom Guide
- 1At the last 3-5 minutes of class, pose a prompt: 'Write one thing you learned today' or 'Solve this problem' or 'What confused you?'
- 2Students write their answer on a small slip of paper. Keep it short -- 1-3 sentences.
- 3Collect as students leave. This is your exit ticket -- literally.
- 4Review before the next class. Sort into: Got it / Partially / Lost.
- 5Use the data to plan: re-teach if 30%+ struggled, move on if 80%+ got it.
Classroom Scenario
Mr. Garcia teaches Grade 8 Math on slope. In the last 3 minutes, he writes on the board: 'Calculate the slope of the line passing through (2,3) and (6,11). Show your work.' Students solve on a slip and hand it in as they leave. He reviews that night: 28 got it right, 8 used the wrong formula, 4 left it blank. Tomorrow he reviews the formula before moving on.
Sample Dialogue
Advantages
- Immediate data on who understood and who did not
- Quick -- only 3-5 minutes
- Low-stakes -- students do not feel tested
- Creates a routine of daily reflection
- No technology needed
Limitations
- Must review them the same day or the data is useless
- Can become routine -- vary the prompt type
- Some students may copy from others
- Takes 3 minutes from instruction time
Common Mistakes
Variations & Adaptations
Can be adapted for different subjects and grade levels by adjusting the complexity of the questions or tasks.
Technology Integration
This strategy requires no technology. If desired, enhance with digital tools such as Google Docs for collaborative writing or Padlet for sharing responses.
Assessment Ideas
Assess through observation of participation, quality of assessment, and formative checks such as exit tickets or quick writes.
Reflection Questions
🤔 What did you learn from this activity?
🤔 What was the most challenging part?
🤔 How could you use this strategy in a different subject?
🤔 What would you do differently next time?
References & Further Reading
- Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (1998). Assessment and Classroom Learning. Assessment in Education, 5(1), 7-74.
- Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-Enhanced Learning. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249-255.