One of the simplest yet most powerful tools teachers can use to gauge learning is the Exit Ticket. These quick check-ins, usually given at the end of a lesson, provide immediate feedback about what students understood, what confused them, and where teaching should head next.

What Are Exit Tickets?

Exit tickets are short prompts or activities students complete before leaving class. They can be written on paper slips, sticky notes, or digital platforms. Despite taking just a few minutes, they reveal valuable insights into student thinking.

Why Use Exit Tickets?

  • Immediate Feedback: Teachers see in real time if key concepts landed.

  • Student Reflection: Learners pause to process and express what they’ve learned.

  • Adjust Instruction: Results guide what needs review or deeper exploration.

  • Student Voice: Every learner gets a chance to share, even quieter ones.

Practical Exit Ticket Ideas

  • One Question Recap: “What is one thing you learned today?”

  • Confusion Check: “What is one question you still have?”

  • Application Prompt: “How could you use today’s lesson in real life?”

  • Quick Quiz: A short problem or multiple-choice question to confirm mastery.

  • Emoji Response: Learners circle or draw an emoji to show how confident they feel.

Making Exit Tickets Work

  • Keep them short and focused (1–3 minutes).

  • Review responses quickly to inform the next lesson.

  • Mix up formats to keep students engaged.

  • Use digital tools (like Google Forms, Mentimeter, or Padlet) for instant collection.

Bottom line: Exit tickets may be small slips of paper (or clicks online), but they hold big potential to transform classrooms into responsive, student-centered spaces.