Exit Tickets: How to Check Student Learning at the End of a Lesson

Exit tickets, also called exit slips, are a quick way for teachers to check what students understood at the end of a lesson and how engaged they were. Students answer a few short questions about what they learned or how they feel about the lesson. Teachers then use the answers to adjust future lessons, find students who need more support, and improve engagement in class.

This guide explains what exit tickets are, gives sample prompts, and lists best practices for using them in a face-to-face or remote class.

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What are exit tickets?

Exit tickets are usually small pieces of paper or digital forms that teachers give out at the end of a lesson. They ask students to do one or more of the following:

• Reflect on what they learned
• Give feedback on the lesson
• Answer a question about the lesson content

Students can finish them in just a few minutes. Because they are low-stakes, students can show what they understand without the pressure of a graded test.

Sample exit ticket prompts

Here are common prompts you can use or adapt:

• What was the most important thing you learned today?
• How confident do you feel about the material covered in class?
• What questions do you still have about today’s lesson?
• On a scale of 1 to 5, how interested were you in today’s lesson?

You can write prompts as open-ended questions, multiple-choice questions, or questions that ask students to reflect on their feelings or experiences.

Benefits of using exit tickets

Exit tickets help both teachers and students.

Checking student understanding

Exit tickets give teachers a quick snapshot of what students understand and where they are struggling. With this, teachers can:

• Adjust the next lessons
• Give targeted feedback to individual students
• Make sure the whole class is moving at the right pace

Encouraging student reflection

When students reflect on their learning, they practice thinking about their own thinking (metacognition) and assessing themselves. This helps them spot gaps in their understanding and take steps to fill them. Reflection can also make students more confident and engaged with the material.

Boosting engagement

Exit tickets give students a chance to share their opinions and ideas. Students feel more invested in a lesson when they see that their voices are heard and their thoughts matter. This can especially help students who are reluctant to speak up in class.

Best practices for using exit tickets

1. Be consistent. Use exit tickets regularly so students know what to expect. A steady routine also helps you track progress over time.
2. Keep it short and simple. Ask only a few questions that are relevant to the day’s lesson. Avoid long or complicated tickets.
3. Use a variety of prompts. Mix open-ended, multiple-choice, and reflection questions to keep things interesting and to gather different kinds of information.
4. Follow up with students. After reviewing the tickets, talk to students individually or as a group about the concerns and questions they raised. This helps them feel heard and supported.

Using exit tickets in any setting

Exit tickets work in a traditional classroom and in remote learning. In class, a small sheet of paper is enough. For remote or online classes, a simple digital form serves the same purpose.

Summary

Exit tickets are a small addition to a lesson that can make a real difference. Used consistently and kept simple, they show teachers what students understand, help students reflect on their learning, and give every student a voice in class.

Frequently asked questions