Printable self-assessment cards and exit tickets

Example ready: change it or print it as it is.

Teacher guide ↓

Teacher's guide: using self-assessment in the classroom

Self-assessment helps pupils notice what they already know and what they still find hard, and tells the teacher what the next lesson needs. This free self-assessment card generator makes A4 cards to cut out, with shared dashed cutting lines, for early years, elementary and middle school: traffic light cards, a smiley face scale, exit tickets, a learning target ladder and "I can" checklists with your own statements.

Subject
Teacher Tools › Classroom Materials
Includes
Printable sheet (no answer key)
Format
A4, to print or save as PDF; new exercises every time
Price
Free, no sign-up
Available in
Catalan, Spanish, English
Printable self-assessment cards and exit tickets: sample printable A4 worksheet, first page of the student sheet Student worksheet
Sample made with LearnKits. Every worksheet is new: choose the topic, level and amount and print it for free.

Traffic light cards

Each pupil has a set of three cards and shows the one that says how it is going: green, I understand; amber, I'm not sure; red, I need help. The circles carry a texture and the colour's name, so they still read when printed in black and white.

Smiley face scale

Three faces in early years and five from grade 1, drawn in outline for pupils to circle or colour in. From grade 1 the card adds the activity and a "why?" line to explain the choice.

Exit tickets

The last five minutes of a lesson: a rating from 1 to 5 and a sentence, what I learned and what I still wonder, or the 3-2-1. Reading them takes two minutes and shows what needs teaching again.

Learning target ladder

Write the learning target at the top and pupils mark which rung they are on before and after the lesson, from "not yet" to "I can explain it to a friend".

I can" checklists

Type the unit's I can statements, one per line, and each one prints with three boxes to rate with faces, traffic lights or words. Leave the list empty for blank rows to copy from the board.

Group work

Listening, doing my part, sharing ideas, helping and trying my best: one card for each member of the group at the end of a project, with a goal for next time.

Self-assessment cards: frequently asked questions

What ages are these cards for?
Every stage. Early years cards have pictures and very few words for the teacher to read with the child; elementary cards use short first-person sentences, and middle and high school cards full sentences. Choose the stage in the wizard and the wording of the card follows it.
How do you use traffic light cards?
Each pupil keeps a set of three cards on the desk and, while working, puts the one that says how it is going on top. You can see at a glance who needs help (red) and who can carry on alone (green). Laminated, they last the whole year.
What is an exit ticket?
A small card pupils fill in during the last minutes of a lesson and hand in on the way out: what they learned, what is still unclear or how they rate the lesson. It is a quick formative assessment that helps you plan the next lesson.
Can I write my own "I can" statements?
Yes. Choose the "I can" checklist and type one statement per line (up to 10). They are saved with the worksheet, so you can reuse or change them whenever you like. Leave it empty for blank rows.
How many cards fit on a sheet?
It depends on the type: three traffic light sets, eight face scales or rating tickets, six "I learned" tickets, four 3-2-1 tickets or target ladders, and one or more checklists depending on how many statements they have. They share their cutting lines, so they are quicker to cut out.
Is there an answer key?
No, because there are no right answers: pupils rate their own learning. To assess the work yourself against criteria and levels, use the assessment rubrics, which also have a self-assessment option.
What other worksheets go well with these?
For group projects, the group work rubrics; for early years, the visual schedules and calendar for circle time. There is more in teacher tools.