Assessments and tests can be pretty stressful, which is part of the reason we tend to focus on the build-up and test itself, and then take a breath of relief afterward. That’s natural - but are you maximising benefit from the ‘post-test’ phase?

 

About the ‘post-test’ phase

The ‘post-test’, as the name suggests, refers to stuff that happens once the actual assessment is all said and done.

For a typical exam or test format, there’ll probably be a bit of a delay between sitting the test and getting results - but then what? Anecdotally, many students will look at their mark, perhaps take a cursory glance at any feedback they’ve received, and then move on. But this might not be the most effective strategy long-term.

 

[1] Actually think about the feedback you’ve received

You receive feedback for a reason (and if you don’t receive any feedback at all aside from your grade/mark, there’s no harm in seeking it). Feedback allows you to better understand not only why and where you lost marks, but also your strengths. It gives you a bit of structure in terms of what to focus on next.

"You receive feedback for a reason."

The first step here is to actually pay attention to that feedback. It’s really tempting to focus mostly on the number or grade, but what really matters in the ‘post-test’ phase is the qualitative feedback. You can’t change how you performed on this specific assessment, but you can influence future results. This feedback is potentially a goldmine.

Read through the feedback, see if you agree with it, and seek clarification if needed. It’s okay to follow up on the feedback you’ve received - in fact, your teacher might be happy that you’re engaged and looking to improve next time!

 

[2] Do something about that feedback

Let’s say the feedback on the test was that you seemed to know what you were talking about broadly speaking, but when it came to long-format questions, your answers were confusing and poorly structured. What next?

If not for reading that specific feedback, you might have had no idea why you lost marks, and assumed that it was because you didn’t know the content well enough. Knowing that you actually lost marks for your clarity or answer structure is super important - that’s a specific skill you can hone and work on before the next test.

"... that's a specific skill you can home and work on before the next test."

Based on the specific feedback you receive, here are some ideas for taking action:

  • Start an error journal. We all make mistakes, but if you don’t pay attention to them, they’ll remain as just mistakes. If you start an error journal, however, you can start to turn your weaker errors into your strengths. Keep track of what types of questions you’re losing marks on, and why. For example, did you not read the question correctly? Did you have a gap in content knowledge? Being methodical with this feedback can really help you highlight weaker areas in each of your subjects, and those areas will be a great place to start for future study.

  • Work through the syllabus. Based on your feedback, go through the syllabus for your subject and highlight the relevant content areas or skills you need to work on. Typically, dot points on the syllabus will form part of a broader area of study, too - so make sure you’re confident about the entire area of study before you’re next assessed on the content.

  • Find more practice questions. Once you’ve worked on building your knowledge or skills in a specific area, it’s time to put what you know into practice! Just because the test is over, it doesn’t mean you can’t improve in the lead-up to the exam. Try to find some extra practice questions (the textbook sometimes has questions at the end of the chapter, or consult with your teacher if you’re struggling to find more) and see the fruits of your work. There’s no harm in re-doing questions you got wrong from your original test, too!

"There's no harm in re-doing questions you got wrong from your original test, too!"

  • Consult with your teacher to build an action plan. As the one who most likely marked your test in the first place, your teacher might have extra insights specific to you and your performance. Chat with them to see what they think!

 

[3] Remember that it’s all building toward the exam

A lot of students tend to see test study and exam study as independent things (“when should I start studying for the exam?”), but the reality is that you’re often doing both at once. Given there will likely be at least some overlap in content between what you’re assessed on during the year and what turns up on the end-of-year exam, focusing on the ‘post-test’ phase can have lots of benefits.

Best of luck with your study, and remember not to neglect your test/assessment feedback!