Making Assessments Matter

[Symphonie]

When was the last time a student said an exam question actually helped them learn?
Too often, assessments feel like hurdles—boxes to check before moving on. But assessments can do more than measure—they can teach.

When you frame your questions in real-world or discipline-specific contexts, students stop asking “Why am I doing this?” and start practicing the skills they’ll use beyond your classroom. Instead of cramming facts, they’re applying knowledge in authentic ways.

The payoff is twofold:

• For students: they see purpose, which boosts engagement.
  
• For you: you get clearer insight into whether they can transfer knowledge, not just memorize.
  

Try this shift: replace one of your usual multiple-choice item with a scenario. For example: “How would a chemist/educator/economist approach this situation?”

That small reframe invites students to think like practitioners, not test-takers. The next time you write an exam, add even one real-world angle—you’ll be surprised how much more authentic (and revealing) your assessments become.