Writing a fair test is certainly an art. I’ve been on the wrong end of unfair tests, both as a student and a teacher. Neither is fun. The best way to get ahead of an unfair test is to learn about writing a fair test. I took a class on this last year, and I’ve implemented where I’ve needed to change things – but many of these tips have been learned from straight up experience. I’ve give so many “bad” tests and had to go back and fix them. And thanks to my lesson reflection techniques, I have collected this information and grown from it. Most often, when I find some part of my test unfair, I choose the simplest
Writing a Fair Test Isn’t Easy
There are a lot of reason why you’d want to ensure fair tests for your students. The first is that when you have a fair test, you have real results. If your test is too easy or too tough, your students aren’t able to show you the extent of their learning. Too easy and it looks like the kids are learning at an incredible pace; too hard and they look like they’re falling behind. The same goes for point values, types of questions and double jeopardy questions. And don’t even get me started on “choose the best answer” questions. Those things just grind my gears! In this episode of the All Star Planning Podcast, I give you my seven tips for writing a fair test and ensuring you get accurate results from your students.
Related Episodes: My Test Retake Policy *spoiler* I allow unlimited retakes
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