Example #1: ESL Three Day Review
Day 1. Since the exam for this course consists of writing an essay that displays the grammatical and writing skills learned in class, the practice exam can be identical in nature. Before handing out the practice test, go over how it will be evaluated so students know what you are looking for. Give them the practice test with plenty of time for the slowest students to complete it.
After class, evaluate the practice test and fill out a review contract for each student to indicate what work he needs to do based on what he struggled with on the practice test. For students who need to work on grammar and other mechanical issues, provide review items that focus on practicing those mechanics. For broader issues, such as difficulty in writing a strong lead sentence, offer review items that allow students to practice those skills. For students who are successful on the practice test, contract items should include both enrichment items and opportunities to teach others through peer tutoring, study group work, or by leading workshops.
Day 2. Return the practice test with a review packet and the contract as a cover sheet. Have students get in groups and review the practice test. Once they have finished, have them start working on the items indicated in their contracts. This can consist of individual work, peer tutoring, study group discussions, or workshops on specific skills. For contract items that allow students to practice skills, answer keys should be given to them once they have completed those items.
Day 3: Continue open work time. Remind the class of the specific learning goals being assessed. Give a pep talk and advice about test-taking to help students who suffer from test anxiety.
Example #2: Algebra Five Day Review
Day 1. Give a brief summary of what will be on the exam. Split the material into halves. Give Practice Test #1, which covers the first half of the material.
Evaluate the practice test after class and fill out a review contract for each student to indicate what work from the review packet he needs to do.
Day 2. Return Practice Test #1. Have study groups review the test with an answer keys, if appropriate. Hand out the review packet and the contract. Give students open work time to address the review packet items they need to work on.
Day 3: Continue with open work time. Give Practice Test #2, which covers the remaining material. Have students hand in their contracts so that they can be given further work to do based on the results of the second test.
Day 4: Return Practice Test #2 and their revised contracts. Continue with open work time.
Day 5: Cram for any topics which have not yet been covered with the whole class. Remaining time can be used in open work time or a Q&A session. Give a pep talk and advice about test-taking.
Example #3 : Spanish Five Day Review
Give a pretest two weeks before the exam. Have students take it at home and return it before the review period.
Evaluate the test and choose work on the contract for each student. based on what he missed on the practice test.
On the first day of the review, hand students the graded test with an answer key. Have them review the problems they got wrong using the answer key so that they can start learning from their mistakes immediately. Hand out the review packet with the contract cover sheet, indicating what specific contract items they need to work on.
For students who aced the practice test, create structures so that they can teach others right away. This can include peer tutoring, study groups, and being workshop leaders.
For students who did fairly well, have them do the necessary work in the packet, then teach the topics they struggled with to reinforce their learning.
Organize the review process on a day-by-day basis, responding to what students need.