Exit tickets: templates, question ideas and how to use them
An exit ticket is one to three quick questions students answer in the last few minutes of a lesson, so you can see who understood before the next one. Print four tickets per page, ask one question about the lesson's objective, and sort the answers into three piles.
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Templates to start from
Exit tickets (4 per page)
Four quick-check tickets to cut apart.
Worksheet (Letter)
Exit tickets (secondary)
The same four-up layout for older students.
Worksheet (Letter)
3-2-1 reflection
Three things learned, two questions, one connection.
Worksheet (Letter)
KWL chart
Know, Want to know, Learned: before and after a lesson.
Worksheet (Letter)
Exit ticket question ideas
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Check a skill | Solve: 3/4 + 1/8. Show your working. |
| Explain | In one sentence, why do we have seasons? |
| Apply | Write a sentence using a semicolon correctly. |
| Find the mistake | Maria says 0.5 is smaller than 0.45. Is she right? Why? |
| Self-rate | How confident are you about today's topic, 1 to 4? What's still confusing? |
| 3-2-1 | 3 things you learned, 2 questions you have, 1 thing you'd like to try |
Sorting answers in five minutes
- Make three piles: got it, nearly, not yet.
- Start the next lesson by reteaching the “not yet” group or pairing them with “got it” students.
- Look for a common wrong answer; it often points to one step to teach again.
- Don't grade exit tickets. They work because students answer honestly.
Tips
- Ask about the objective you wrote on the board, not a side topic.
- Keep it to what students can answer in two to three minutes.
- Have students write their name on the back if you want them to answer without worrying about who's reading.
- Mix formats through the week: a problem one day, a self-rating the next.
Exit tickets in university classes
In lectures and seminars, a “muddiest point” card (what was least clear today?) works well. Collect them as students leave and start the next session by answering the most common one.
Exit tickets for younger students
- Draw instead of write: “Draw a picture of a plant and label the roots.”
- Circle a face: happy, okay or unsure about today's learning.
- Point and tell: students tell you one thing at the door as they leave, and you tick a class list.
How to make it in CatalogProFlow
- Open the exit ticketsFour tickets per page, each with a header and space to write.
- Type your questionClick the first ticket and write one question about today's objective; copy it to the other three.
- Print and cutOne page makes four tickets, so a class of 28 needs seven sheets.
- Save a setWith a free account, save the design and change only the question each day.
- PrintDownload a PNG free with an account, or a print-ready PDF with Teacher Pro or a one-time $2.99 unlock for that design. You can also print straight from the PDF on any home or school printer.
Questions
What is an exit ticket?
A short question or two that students answer at the end of a lesson, so the teacher can check understanding and plan the next lesson.
How long should an exit ticket take?
Two to five minutes. One focused question is usually enough.
Should exit tickets be graded?
Usually not. They're a quick check that shows who needs more help, and students answer more honestly when it doesn't count.
How many exit tickets fit on a page?
This template prints four per page, in US Letter or A4.
What's the difference between an exit ticket and a quiz?
An exit ticket is one or two questions about today's lesson, used to plan the next one, and usually not graded. A quiz covers more material and often counts toward a grade.
Can I reuse exit tickets?
Yes. Save the design with a free account and change only the question each day, or laminate a set and have students answer with dry-erase markers.
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