Ten for your Test is a formative teaching activity in which students take a multiple‑choice test as many times as needed until everyone scores a 10. Students take tests of 10 multiple‑choice questions that they generate on the spot. They receive immediate but limited feedback and actively figure out for themselves what they have not yet mastered. The focus is on acquiring and processing knowledge and on ownership of the learning process.
Thanks to a digital system, teachers can easily supply a large set of test questions, after which students automatically receive new variants each time. This method is suitable as intensive practice in preparation for an exam, or as a concluding learning activity for a course block or theme.
- Activity goal
- Activate prior knowledge | Assess | Brainstorm | Exchange knowledge
- When
- In class
- Where
- Offline
- Duration
- < 60 minutes| > 60 minutes
- Group size
- Small | Medium
Step-by-step plan
Step 1: Determine the learning objective and timing
Choose one or more learning objectives and use Ten for your Test after students have already studied the material (for example at the end of a theme or week), or at the start of a new course so that everyone has the minimum required prior knowledge. Explain that this is a practice moment to discover what they already master and where there are still gaps.
Step 2: Develop a large set of comparable questions
Develop at least 45 and at most 90 test questions that all assess the chosen learning objectives. Formulate several questions about the same topic, but with different wording or in different contexts. In this way, students receive different questions each attempt and are stimulated to build real understanding instead of memorising answers.
Step 3: Explain the procedure clearly in class
At the beginning of the class, explain how the method works: students take the test as many times as necessary until they achieve a 10. The feedback shows only how many questions are wrong, so students must actively figure out why something was incorrect and make use of the study materials and of each other.
Step 4: Have students collaborate and keep learning
Students who have already achieved a 10 remain in the classroom. They can help fellow students, make a new attempt, or delve further into the material. This creates an active learning environment in which students learn with and from each other.
Step 5: Conclude with a brief reflection
Conclude the activity together by discussing which parts were difficult, what helped them make progress, and how students now feel about the course objectives. This makes the learning gains explicit.
Step 1: Fill in the Excel template
When your questions per learning objective are ready, enter them into the ‘Ten for your Test’ Excel template. For each question, note the question text, the link to the learning objective, the correct answer, and the incorrect answer options. It is important that the file is completed fully and carefully, because it forms the basis for the digital test environment. On the first sheet, also enter your name, faculty, programme, course, and the name of the test.
Step 2: Save the file with a recognisable name
Save the Excel file with a clear and recognisable name, for example including the course name and topic.
Step 3: Send the file to us
Send the completed Excel file by e‑mail to schut@risbo.eur.nl. Include the following in the e‑mail:
- For which course the method is intended
- When you would like to use the method
- What title the activity/test should have
Step 4: Receive the digital test environment
Based on your questions we create a digital testing environment in which students automatically receive ten new questions with each attempt. We aim to share a working link within one working day, but in busy periods please allow for a maximum processing time of two weeks.
- Ludodidactiek, HKU press (2022)
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