Assessment
A mark without a reason is not feedback
A total at the top of an answer sheet says how you did. It does not say what to change. The difference is where learning happens.
BlankSage team1 min read
A number at the top of an answer sheet answers one question: how did I do? It does not answer the one that matters more: what should I do differently next time?
What students actually do with a mark
Most students look at the total, compare it with a friend's and move on. The questions where marks were lost get skimmed, because the reason is missing or is a single word in the margin. Without a reason there is nothing to act on.
Reasons make marks teachable
When every mark comes with a reason tied to a specific step, the mistake becomes findable. 'Correct formula, wrong substitution in step two' tells a student exactly where to look.
- Answer
- Rubric criterion
- Mark
- Reason
- Next step
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