Oct. 3, 2022

Self-Reflection on your Grades

After tests or exams, you might be tempted to move on to focusing on upcoming topics, especially if the grade you received was not what you aimed for. However, a crucial part of learning is understanding yourself, your skills, and what you learned from the course. Taking time to reflect on how you preformed can give you the insight needed to improve your study habits and understand your strengths.

Use this checklist to reflect on the strategies you used to prepare for your quiz, test, or exam.

Start out by documenting the course, test, and grade information.

Course
Test Worth %
Type of Test
Grade Received

If possible, start out this self-reflection before going into the exam. If not, try your best to recall what made you preform best and the strategies you utilized while studying.

Before the Test

Questions to ask yourself

How many hours did I spend preparing for this test? When and where did I typically study?

Which of the following activities did my preparation include?

Attending class regularly
Reviewing lecture materials after class/ regularly
Creating a test-prep schedule to ensure I covered all material
Self-testing
Group studying or teaching someone else
Making sure I knew what I could/could not bring into the test
Creating concept maps, tables, diagrams, or other graphic organizers.
Studying all relevant materials (e.g., notes, lectures slides, D2L, videos, readings, practice problems, etc…)
Using memory tools (e.g., mnemonics, chunking, visualization, rhymes, rehearsal etc.)
Practicing the style of questions on the test (e.g., MC, short answer, long answer, problems)
Taking care of myself physically (sleep, physical activity, eating nutritiously)

After Completing the Test

What test strategies did I use during the test?

Skimmed through entire exam to better manage my time and know what to expect
Brought a watch and extra writing tools
Scanned through entire test before starting
Brain dumped key concepts onto back of test/scrap paper
Allocated time based on value of questions
Started with high value questions or the ones about which I was most confident
Skipped questions when I got stuck, circled and came back later
Used relaxation strategy if I became anxious
Covered multiple choice answers and answered from my head before looking at options
Highlighted or underlined key words in test questions to ensure I understood

After the Test has been Graded

Tip: If possible, it is a good idea to review your graded test with your professor or ask if the exam will be discussed during class.

How much of the test did I complete?
How much time did I have left at the end?
Did I check over my answers?
How did I lose points?
Illegible writing
Didn’t show my work
Factual errors
Small math errors
Forgot permitted materials (e.g., open book, calculator, notes page etc.)
Misunderstood the question(s)
Struggled with question Format (e.g., MC, short answer, long answer, etc.)
Difficulty with expressing myself in English
Ran out of time or did not complete all questions
Skipped questions or forgot to answer questions
Technical issues with online testing
Concentration impacted by the test environment (noises, timers, announcements, etc.)

Plan for Next Test

Moving forwards, it will be a good idea to further reflect on the strategies that were successful for you in preparing and writing your test.

Effective practices I will maintain for the next test:
Things I will stop doing for next test:
Different things I will try for my next test:

Regardless of the outcome, realize that everyone has challenges with exams from time to time, but by better understanding yourself and the unique ways in which you work best, your ability to perform well on exams will improve.