Exit ticket questions and ideas for every lesson
By Votense · Published 2026-10-11 · Updated 2026-10-11
An exit ticket is a short set of questions students answer as they leave a lesson. It shows you what landed, what did not, and what to revisit at the start of the next session. The best exit tickets take a few minutes, ask about the lesson itself, and are read the same day. The questions below are grouped by purpose so you can pick the right kind for each lesson.
If you want a ready-made version, the exit ticket template has three questions, no marks and a confidence scale. Press “Use this template” to open it in the editor, then change the questions for your lesson and share the link at the end of class.
Choosing the right kind of exit ticket
| If you want to know | Ask | Read it for |
|---|---|---|
| Whether the lesson worked | A check-understanding question | Who got it right and what the wrong answers have in common |
| How confident students feel | A confidence scale | Whether confidence matches the right answers |
| Which term confuses people | A definition or a “which is different” question | Words that appear in several wrong answers |
| What to do next lesson | A “what is still unclear?” prompt | Topics to open the next lesson with |
A worked example
Suppose the lesson is on the difference between weather and climate. The exit ticket asks three things: a definition in one sentence, a choice question with four options, and a confidence rating from 1 to 5. Of 28 students, 20 pick the right option, but only 9 define the terms correctly. The confidence ratings are high across the room. That gap tells you the class has memorised the answer without the definition, so you open the next lesson with the definitions and a short example.
Read responses within a day. An exit ticket read a week later loses most of its value, because you can no longer change the next lesson in time.
Check understanding (any subject)
- In one sentence, what was the main idea of today’s lesson? Why it works: Students restate the key idea; scan for the common misconception.
- Which step did you find hardest, and why? Why it works: Shows where to reteach at the start of the next lesson.
- Solve one problem of the type we practised today, and show your working. Why it works: One worked item; the working shows where the method breaks down.
- Write one question you still have about today’s topic. Why it works: Sort the questions into groups before the next lesson to plan what to revisit.
Confidence and reflection
- How confident are you in today’s topic? (1 = not at all, 5 = very confident) Why it works: Use the same scale every lesson so the answers can be compared.
- What is one thing you would do differently on your next attempt? Why it works: Builds self-review habits.
- What did you learn today that you did not know yesterday? Why it works: A quick recall prompt that shows what stuck.
- Where did you get stuck during the activity? Why it works: Points to the step that needs support.
Vocabulary and recall
- Define the key term from today’s lesson in your own words. Why it works: Checks whether the word is understood, not just recognised.
- Give one example of today’s concept from outside class. Why it works: Tests transfer, which recall questions miss.
- Which two terms from today are most often confused, and what is the difference? Why it works: Surfaces confusion between similar ideas.
Tips for using exit tickets
Keep the format predictable. Students who know the format can answer quickly, and you can compare answers across lessons. Ask students to write their name only if you need it for follow-up; without names, students may be more willing to say what confused them. If you use a choice question, make the wrong options reflect real mistakes, as described in the multiple choice guide. For the wider assessment picture, see formative vs summative assessment, since an exit ticket is one of the most common formative checks.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How many exit ticket questions should I ask?
One to three. Guidance from the National Science Teaching Association describes an effective exit ticket as specific and short, taking about five minutes, so students can finish before the bell.
Should exit tickets be graded?
It depends on your purpose. An exit ticket used to plan the next lesson is usually recorded for feedback rather than marked. If you give marks, say so in advance so students know the stakes.
Can I run an exit ticket as a poll or survey?
Yes. The exit ticket template is a short survey with three questions and a confidence scale that stays the same from lesson to lesson, so the answers can be compared over a term.