Post Exam Analysis Presentation Lesson
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Post Exam Analysis Lesson Plan (10-20 minutes)
Can be used as a standalone lesson, or in conjunction with Test Anxiety and/or Test Prep
Purpose:
 To learn to evaluate previous work (tests, exams, quizzes, essays, homework assignments) in the
context of important learning strategies with an eye for improving performance on future exams.
Goal/Outcomes:
 Student will understand why it is important to ALWAYS review returned work
 Students will be more strategic in how they study and prepare for exams based on information
they gather from reviewing previous exams
Outline:
I.
Discussion of the importance of Post Exam Analysis
II.
Exam Review Activity
III.
Thinking ahead to the next test Activity
Materials:
 Post Exam Analysis Worksheet
 12 Reasons to Review a Returned Test Handout
Homework: (to be brought to class on the day of the presentation)
 A graded returned test, exam, or quiz with at least 10 questions.
 Alternatives: Do explanation first followed by exam review activity to give students prior
knowledge when looking over their exam. OR, do activity first, followed by discussion and
explanation of why it is important to review tests.
Post Exam Analysis Presentation Lesson
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I. Introduction and Discussion - Importance of Post Exam Analysis (5-10 min)
Directions:
 Pass out “12 Reasons to Review a Returned Test”
 Introduce the importance of Post Exam Analysis
 Ask the class to brainstorm reasons why it is important to review returned work
 Go through the “12 Reasons to Review a Returned Test” Handout
1. To begin, Question class  “Raise your hands, how many of you actually look over your graded
tests, quizzes, and exams after you get them back? Be honest!” (Get a feel for who in the class
looks over returned exams)
 Follow up  “From those of you who raised your hands, what are you usually looking
for when you go through your tests/quizzes? (Allow 1 or 2 answers)
2. Explain and discuss the importance of Post Exam Analysis
 “One of the most important strategies you can learn to improve your performance in
your classes is called Post Exam Analysis. Reviewing your graded exams allows you to
see what you know and don’t know, what areas you need to study more, phrasing of
questions you might have misread, they might indicate you didn’t study enough or
studied the wrong material. It is a way for you to learn from your mistakes and to
improve going forward. Everyone messes up on tests once and a while. But what you
want to take from that is ways to avoid it next time. If you don’t look over your tests you
will continue to make the same mistakes over and over, and that is just foolish!”
3. Have students turn to “12 Reasons to Review a Returned Test” Handout
1. Points!  Professor may have added up wrong or missed sections, it could be an easy
way to get a few extra points
2. Learn what questions you missed and why. You may be misreading a question, have
something wrong in your notes, or could simply just not understand it. Knowing WHY
you missed is often just as important as know WHAT you missed
3. Read your professors comments  They give good insight into what the professor
expects on exams, how they grade, and often are straightforward directions on what to
do next time
4. Look for commonalities  see if there are any types of questions you habitually miss, or
look for trick questions that you fall for. Being aware of areas you get caught up on will
help you pay closer attention for them on future tests
5. Learn where the material comes from  text, lecture, and additional materials? You can
study more directly if you know WHAT to study
6. Make sure to correct and understand questions you got wrong  so you won’t make
the same mistake twice
7. Chances are you will see the material again on a later test or the final.
8. Analyze your strengths and weakness, so you can find new strategies to study
9. It’s a great clue on what future tests will be like!
10. Reviewing information helps you put it into your Long Term Memory
11. Learn about how you study  see what areas you didn’t study enough. See if you
actually learned the information while studying and if not look for more active ways to
study. Self test! Also, see your errors relater to your test taking skills. Maybe you ran out
of time or mixed up question numbers. Etc.
12. Having questions gives you a reason to GO TALK TO YOUR PROFESSOR! You will have
specific questions to talk about and can get special help or explanations on why you go
Post Exam Analysis Presentation Lesson
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certain questions wrong. Also, if you think you are right, say so! Stand up for the answer
you think is right (obviously you have to show your reasoning for this). Sometimes you
will get point just for the sake of explaining yourself better to the professor.
Activity 1 – Reviewing a Returned Test (5-10minutes)
Directions:
 Have students take out a returned, graded test, quiz, or exam to class (homework assignment)\
 Pass out the “Post Exam Analysis” Worksheet
 Have students go through first section “Questions to ask yourself as you analyze your
performance” and write down the answers on the worksheet using their test
o (Depending on time, you can have students work in pairs, small groups, or alone)
1. Introduce and Explain the activity  “So, now that you understand why it is important, we’re
going to take a few minutes to learn what you want to look for when reviewing your test. Go
through the questions on the worksheet and write down answers using your test. What
questions did you get right? What did you get wrong etc.? Really take a detailed look at your
work. Go through question by question and figure out why you got questions right or wrong.
(If students have 100% “If you aced it and have nothing wrong then look over things you did well
so you can use them again or think about what and how you studied so that you can repeat your
performance down the road Even if you are doing well on exams, you must understand WHY so
you can keep doing it”)
2. Have students write on/mark test where they had errors: (write these abbreviations on board)
Study Skills/Content Errors
a. TM – errors
b. NT – errors because notes were missing or incomplete
c. TB – errors because you didn’t read or understand the textbook
d. LNT – errors because of vocabulary or terms you did not understand
Testing Taking Skills
e. T – ran out of time
f. RC –reading comprehension, did not understand question or misread
g. C – confidence, double guessed initial instinct and changed to wrong answer
h. GS – Guessing strategy, wild guess without narrowing down possible answers
3. Discussion :
 What have you learned about your performance on this test?
 Of the questions you missed, how many were because you did not study the material?
 “After doing this exercise, what do you think are some reasons why it is important to
look over your graded work?” (Write on the board the suggestion that arise)
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Activity 2 – Building Better Study Skills for Future Tests (2-5 Minutes)
Purpose:
 To use the skills of Post Exam Analysis to perform better on future tests
Directions:
 Have students check off Methods of Studying they used and think about methods they will use
for their next test.
 Have students answer the question at the bottom of the page “What did you discover about
your exam preparation that will help you perform better on your next exam?”