Academic success tip: Assign exam wrappers

Assessment is a key part of the student learning process, but sometimes exam pressures can limit the growth students gain from the exercise.

Many students feel some level of text anxiety or discomfort with high-stakes exams. A recent survey from Kahoot! found two in five students say they’ve skipped an exam at least once, and half of those learners say it was because they were unprepared or scared of doing poorly.

A May 2024 Student Voice survey from Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab found 46 percent of students believe their institution can help promote overall well-being through rethinking exam schedules or encouraging faculty members to limit high-stakes exams.

To improve student learning and metacognition after exams, faculty can assign a post-test assignment, frequently called an exam wrapper.

In the assignment, professors can ask students to reflect on preparing for and completing the assessment, as well as future efforts they can take or change. Open-ended questions can help elicit critical reflection, according to Purdue University at Fort Wayne’s Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching.

Read the full article in Inside Higher Ed.