Exams are serious business—just ask third graders preparing for their first Common Core test.
High-stakes testing now occurs at every level of education, adding significant stress to students’ lives. Fortunately, small touches of humor can reduce test anxiety and improve performance.
“In high school I couldn’t pass a math test. I couldn’t pass a drug test either. There may be a correlation.”
—Lynda Montgomery
One simple strategy is to warn students that the final question on the exam will be humorous and not graded.
For example:
The exam is over, and you…
a. hope this was a bad dream
b. should have read the book
c. probably should have at least bought the book
d. wonder if it’s too late to drop the course
Another option is to include a final course-themed item.
This is the last exam question for the course. Let’s finish the semester as a winner. What comes after “C”?
a. Nope
b. Still wrong
c. Getting warmer
d. Bingo: You’re a winner
The instructional humor principle of less is more is especially important during exams. Tests are serious academic tools, and humor should be light and occasional.
If students smirk during an exam, the humor worked.
During a test, the only person who should be laughing…
is the teacher.
