Do You Allow Retests?

The decision to let students retake a test or quiz can be fraught. A majority (68%) of educators responding to a recent NSTA Reports informal survey indicated they allow students to retake unit tests or quizzes, but several questioned their own policies or did so in compliance with a school or district policy with which they disagreed.

Respondents also revealed that most who allowed retests had students retake the entire test (60%), used an alternative test (65.8%) instead of the same test or an alternative assessment, and did not see the need for either school- or district-wide policies on retesting (58%). Seventy-seven percent reported having no school- or district-wide policy on retests.

Here’s what science educators are saying:

I do not like to allow this often. What started as a strictly special ed[ucation] modification has become a crutch for too many students.—Educator, Middle School, Georgia

I do sometimes by allowing them to make corrections and receiving ½ credit back. I am torn [about] this, as I have asked many teachers on their view of this. I am a first-year teacher, so I am looking for advice on this.—Educator, High School, New Jersey

I think that it increases the chance that some of the students (especially those [who] would be willing to take an F) will understand and retain some of the material.—Educator, High School, Oregon

Yes…I am graded on students’ performance.—Educator, High School, Indiana

To help them get over their fear of tests and to emphasize that tests can be used to help them know what they have learned.—Educator, Elementary, Oregon

I have changed my opinions on this over the years and feel we put so much emphasis on testing that [students] should have another chance.—Educator, High School, Illinois

I teach grades 4–6 science. At this age, quizzes and tests have two purposes: 1.) to assess students’ understanding of material covered and to be able to apply it to solve problems...2) to teach them how to take quizzes and tests! So if they do poorly because they did not practice good time management or good study skills, then they have an opportunity to learn from their mistakes and try again. If they did poorly due to a lack of understanding, then as their teacher, I need to find ways to help them to gain a better understanding.—Educator, Elementary, Massachusetts

The goal is for them to learn, but I often wonder if I am just letting them take the test to see what is on it and then they retake [it]...not sure if I agree with my own practices!—[Unspecified], Middle School, Oklahoma

No Do-Overs

I let students redo and resubmit assignments, but they are expected to be ready for a test on test day. Allowing retakes encourages procrastination. [Students will think] ‘Why study now? Just see if you do poorly, and study later for the makeup test.’—Educator, High School, Florida

They become dependent on [the retest] and neglect to prepare adequately [for the initial test]. It is also a very uncommon practice at universities, so it denies students good preparation for higher education.—Educator, High School, Ohio

I expect them to study the first time around.—Educator, Middle School, Massachusetts

Students need to learn that often times in life, you only have one chance to do a task well. They don’t want to study; they want to guess their way through it, knowing they can always take it again.—Educator, High School, Nebraska

I believe these assessments are summative in nature and should stand as an indication of what students understand at that point in the class.—Educator, High School, New Hampshire

Too much time and effort would have to go in to writing and administering additional assessments.—Educator, High School, Kentucky

I give plenty of opportunities for help prior to [the] test. If students fail, I give a ‘remediation worksheet’ as homework they must complete to help bring up their grade. It isn’t a retake, but forces them to review material one more time before moving on.—Educator, High School, Ohio

I used to allow my students to retake unit tests, but most of the students performed worse on the retake than the original because they weren’t spending the time studying first.—Educator, High School, Texas

This is used too much as a crutch, so students don’t study the first time. On some sections, I allow a retake, such as problem solving.—Educator, High School, Virginia

They have already seen the questions and can ask their peers [for] the answers. The retake would not be a measure of what they learned, necessarily.—Educator, High School, California

They are to be responsible for the information. Aren’t we enabling if we let them repeat several times?—Educator, High School, Illinois

I have received students from teachers who do let students redo things, and they seem to be less prepared than the other students for success.—Educator, Middle School, Illinois

At the high school level, students need to take responsibility for their own future and understand that it is their responsibility to be prepared. If a student has one low score due to a bad day, it will not greatly affect his or her overall grade.—Educator, High School, New Mexico

I know our district/state is going to ‘proficiency grading’ [in which] students will retake tests until they pass. I disagree with this policy...Sadly, the immense amount of time this will take will mean giving up even more of the ‘fun’ stuff, like labs, models, puzzles, inquiries (other than the state-mandated ones), and so forth.—Educator, Middle School, Oregon

Unless they have a specific individual learning plan that refers to a reason that retesting is helpful, I do not allow retesting...I teach students who are in high school and need to be held to the line on a few things…I have been teaching [for more than] 30 years and did allow retesting in some classes. For the most part, these were remedial classes, and I was using mastery learning to help the students catch up to their peers.—Educator, High School, Colorado

How, then, do they learn responsibility? Unfortunately, schools are now tasked with doing the job of parents, which includes taking responsibility and dealing with the consequences of your choices.—Educator, High School, New Jersey

While I allow the occasional retake on a formative assessment, I do not typically allow students to retake summative assessments. I teach a dual–credit, college-level course, and the university does not allow this practice.—Administrator, High School, Missouri

Mastery Is Important

My job is to teach. If a student did not learn that section, just moving on shows that information is not important. I want my students to be accountable for their learning.—Educator, Middle School, Pennsylvania

Quizzes are formative; if a student is not ready the day I happen to schedule a quiz, I believe they should have the opportunity to retake it.—Educator, Middle School, Wisconsin

Second chance is our culture. Imagine if everyone who failed their driving test the first time couldn’t take it again. SAT, GRE, etc. can all be taken again.—Educator, High School, Virginia

My department follows a standards-based grading system. Students need to master the tiered objectives to pass the class. They have to master the basic-level objectives before the higher levels are even graded…The students never see the tests. They are only told which objectives they missed.—Educator, High School, Illinois

My job is [to] teach them about science, and if they are willing to keep trying, I don’t want to stop them. I want them to interact with the material in the unit that they did not understand. Retakes are optional.—Educator, Middle School, Minnesota

Because learning the material is the primary goal! Students must reengage and think through their mistakes to attempt a retake.—Educator, High School, Colorado

So many skills and concepts are built upon as students progress through the school year. Allowing students to move forward without at least a rudimentary understanding can often snowball as the year progresses, setting up students’ struggles to compound as the year progresses.—Educator, Middle School, Maine

I believe it is my job to help them learn the material. If [kids don’t] know the material, I/they need to work together to help them learn it.—Educator, Elementary, Virginia

Tests are a measure of a student’s knowledge of a topic. If they increase their knowledge of the subject, then it is important to know what that change was and allow for a retesting.—Educator, Middle School, Oregon

If they score below a 65, I allow them to retake a unit test. I do not allow them to retake quizzes.—Educator, Middle School, New Jersey

Approaches Vary

Students who retake tests are ones who have been stressed or ill before their tests. They have to show evidence of their studying and struggles.—Educator, High School, Ontario, Canada

Anyone can have an off day, or too much to do in one night. We expect these students to do perfectly on everything in high school. To do everything perfectly, they must have practice, and they will occasionally fail.—Educator, High School, Connecticut

I let them retake one test per quarter. I figure if the students take the time to relearn the material, then it is a win-win. They win because their grades rise, and I win because I’m confident they learned the material.—Educator, Middle School, High School, Florida

I do [allow retakes] when the class average is a failing grade.—Educator, Middle School, Illinois

I only allow retakes on quizzes, and only if I had a lot of students not do well, so it doesn’t happen very often. If there is a retake offered, everyone is allowed to retake.—Educator, Middle School, Georgia

I make the students attend intense tutoring sessions before and after school, so it totals up to them working as hard—if not harder—than the students who did well on the test. Never do I let the students obtain full points.—Educator, High School, Kentucky

Yes, if I feel the student genuinely studied and then flunked the quiz or test.—Educator, Middle School, Missouri

Some material is crucial for students to advance to the next levels or understand future material. Since some students take longer to learn material, I would rather give them a chance to learn it in an extended time period so they have a chance of being successful in the future. I don’t stop introducing new material, however.—Educator, High School, Washington

School Policy, Like It or Not

This is part of our district’s grading and reporting guidelines. Students must show evidence of relearning before retaking. This practice supports our philosophy [of] ‘All grading and reporting practices will support the learning process and encourage student success.’—Other, Middle School, High School, Nebraska

Our school district requires that we allow all students the opportunity to retake a test. I am opposed to the district’s policy.—Educator, High School, Indiana

[It’s] district policy. Students [who] do not achieve a 70% or higher on a summative assessment must complete reteaching and a retake test. They are allowed to retake the test up to two times within three weeks [of] the original assessment. The retake score replaces the original score in the gradebook.—Educator, Middle School, Illinois

[We allow retakes due to] school policy and the belief that students should not be locked into a grade if they go back and learn a concept better.—Educator, Middle School, New Mexico