AFTER A BAD GRADE · 01
How to analyse a disappointing test
The grade says what happened. The mistakes show what to do next.
Four steps to work through carefully.
- 1
Reconstruct the question
Ask the student to explain what each question required in their own words, without solving it yet.
- 2
Mark the first wrong step
Look beyond the final answer and find the first point where method, knowledge or calculation went off track.
- 3
Group the mistakes
Separate question comprehension, knowledge, method, calculation, timing and final checking.
- 4
Look for patterns
Two or more similar mistakes signal a more useful priority than one isolated slip.
Quick check
Before moving on
- ✓ Did I understand the question?
- ✓ Did I know the rule or concept?
- ✓ Did I choose the right method?
- ✓ Did I check the result?
KEY IDEAA useful analysis ends with a short list of priorities, not the vague instruction to ‘study more’.