One-Minute Paper: A Quick Formative Assessment Tool for Teachers

A one-minute paper is a short written reflection that learners complete at the end of a lesson or activity. In about a minute, each learner writes a response to a question from the teacher. The teacher then reads the papers to see what the class understood and what needs more explanation. This guide explains what one-minute papers are, why they help, how to use them step by step, and what their limits are.

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What is a one-minute paper?

A one-minute paper (OMP) is a form of formative assessment. Formative assessment checks learning while it is still happening, so the teacher can adjust instruction before a unit test or exam.

In a typical one-minute paper:

• The teacher gives a specific prompt or question about the lesson or activity.
• Learners take about one minute to reflect and write their answer on a piece of paper.
• The teacher collects the papers and reviews them to see how well learners understood the material and where they need more help.

One-minute papers can be used from primary school to college and in many subjects. They are especially handy for lessons with challenging ideas or that call for higher-order thinking, such as science, math, and social studies, because they show quickly whether learners have grasped the key ideas.

Why use one-minute papers?

Exams and quizzes take time to write and check, and they may not always show what learners really understand. One-minute papers offer a fast, low-effort way to fill that gap.

• Quick and easy to give. You can use them at the end of a class period or activity. They need very little preparation and checking.
• Immediate feedback. You learn right away which ideas are unclear, so you can fix misunderstandings before they grow into bigger problems.
• Reflection and metacognition. Learners think about what they understood and what they did not. This builds metacognition (thinking about one’s own learning) and helps them become more self-directed.
• Active learning. Writing a response makes learners think about the material instead of only listening, which can deepen their understanding.

How to use one-minute papers in your class

1. Explain the purpose. Before the first one-minute paper, tell learners why you are using it and how it will help them improve.
2. Give clear instructions. Provide one specific prompt or question and ask learners to write their answer on a piece of paper.
3. Collect and review the papers. Read them during class or after class, whichever suits you.
4. Use what you learn to guide teaching. If many learners struggle with the same concept, give extra support or review that part of the lesson in more detail.

Tips for using one-minute papers well

Keep prompts clear and simple

A clear, simple prompt helps learners focus on the key concept. Avoid prompts that are too broad or vague, since these lead to unfocused answers.

Set clear expectations

Tell learners how often you will use one-minute papers, what kind of prompts to expect, and whether and how their answers will be graded. Clear expectations help learners take the activity seriously and put effort into their answers.

Let the answers shape your lessons

Look for patterns in the responses. They show where learners are struggling, so you can adjust your teaching methods and give extra help where it is needed.

Give feedback to learners

Respond to what learners wrote, through short written comments or a class discussion. Feedback helps them see their strengths and weaknesses and what to work on.

Use them with other assessments

One-minute papers should not be your only assessment. Use them alongside quizzes, exams, and other tools to get a fuller picture of learning.

Limitations

One-minute papers are useful, but they have limits:

• A one-minute answer is too short for highly technical topics or tasks that need in-depth analysis. Use longer assessments for those.
• They give only a snapshot of learning, not a complete picture, so they work best together with other assessment methods.

Open questions for teachers to watch

There is still much to learn about one-minute papers. Questions that remain open include:

• Long-term learning. It is not yet clear whether the quick feedback from one-minute papers leads to lasting learning gains.
• How often to use them. The best frequency in different classes and settings is still unclear.
• Online classes. One-minute papers have been used in online courses, but how well they work there compared with face-to-face classes is less clear.
• Different cultures and languages. They have been used in many settings, but whether they work equally well everywhere, and how best to adapt them, needs more study.

Summary

One-minute papers are a simple, flexible way to check learning at the end of a lesson. They give you immediate feedback, encourage learners to reflect, and keep them actively engaged. Keep your prompts clear, use the answers to guide your teaching, give learners feedback, and pair one-minute papers with other assessments for a complete view of how your class is doing.

Frequently asked questions