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Module 8 · Lesson 2 · Core

Running the test and recording results

Log sessions, score the delayed test and compute the scores and the difference.

  • 50 minutes
  • Serves O5, O6
  • Assumes M8.L1

Phase 1: Prepare

Step 1 Warm-up recall

From M8.L1: why write the test before studying?

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Step 2 Learning goal

By the end of this lesson you can:

  • keep a session log (Foundation);
  • score a test as a percentage (Core);
  • compute a difference in points (Core).

Phase 2: Teach

Step 3 A familiar example

A scientist who does not write down the readings cannot report them honestly later. A study log does the same job.

Step 4 Clear explanation

Run the plan as written and record each session: date, topic, method, minutes and anything that went wrong. If a session is missed, note it; do not quietly drop it. After the delay, take the test closed-book, mark it against your answer key and record the scores.

Planbefore you startLogeach sessionScoredelayed test
Record every session so the result can be checked against what you actually did.
Topic (invented)MethodQuestionsCorrectScore
ARetrieval10880%
BRereading10660%
Difference20 points

Check the working: 8 / 10 = 80% and 6 / 10 = 60%; the difference is 80 − 60 = 20 points. Note that with only 10 questions, each question is worth 10 points, so a 20-point gap is 2 questions. Report the raw counts as well as the percentages, so readers can see how small the numbers are.

Mark honestly: give credit only for answers that match the key, and have a friend mark them if you can. Keep the results table next to the log. See retrieval practice for why the closed-book test is itself a learning event.

Step 5 Worked example (4 marks)

Retrieval scored 9 of 12 and rereading 6 of 12 on a delayed test. Give both percentages and the difference.

  1. Retrieval: 9 / 12 = 0.75, so 75%. (1 mark)
  2. Rereading: 6 / 12 = 0.5, so 50%. (1 mark)
  3. Difference: 75 − 50 = 25 points. (1 mark)
  4. Answer: 75%, 50% and 25 points. (1 mark)

Phase 3: Practise

Step 6 Learner practice (instant-marked)

1. A session log should record:

2. 8 correct out of 10 is:

3. 80% and 60% differ by:

4. With 10 questions, one question is worth:

Phase 4: Close

Step 7 Recap

  • Log every session, including misses.
  • Score the delayed closed-book test against a key written earlier.
  • Report raw counts and percentages, and the difference in points.

Step 8 Exit ticket (ungraded)

7 of 10 and 4 of 10: percentages and difference?

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Step 9 Go further (Extension)

Run a small version with two short topics and record the results.

Common mistakes

MistakeWhy it fails
Dropping a bad session from the logRecord it.
Reporting only percentagesGive the counts too.
Marking generouslyStick to the key.

Limits. Ten questions give a coarse score; one question changes the result by 10 points.