What to do between AP Exams and Semester Finals

An AskERIC Lesson Plan

Author: Bud Stephen
School or Affiliation: Las Vegas High School, Las Vegas, NV

Date: 1994

Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12

Subject(s):

• Interdisciplinary/Study Skills

Overview: Student constructed final examination.

Purpose: Understanding of comprehensive topics covered during the entire school year.

Objectives: At the completion of this assignment, the students should be able to write critical items of a comprehensive final examination.

Resources/Materials: Textbook and students‘ imagination are all that is needed.

Activities: Team-pairings with others in the class, (usually beneficial to pair the highest with the lowest, the second-highest with the second-lowest, etc.)

Tying It All Together: Students should work together in teams, assigned Chapter and/or section of text from which to creatively write five multiple choice questions individually and two free response questions collectively with other team members. Copying questions from the text or questions experienced on exams they have already taken is prohibited. Each will then select which of his five multiple choice questions will appear on the final exam; the instructor reserves the right to choose which of the free response questions appear on the final. (This is an excellent question pool resource as well as an assurance that the students have accomplished year long objectives. Most treat this project, which can run as long as three weeks, as fun.) If there is time, construction of the final exam should be professional and up to par with their other tests--on the level of the AP Exam. Also, each student’s name should appear next to the question he wrote. (They like to know who to blame.)