Using Exit Slips for Assessment with Conceptual Understanding in the IB PYP
In the IB PYP classroom, we don’t assess learning at the end; we assess as learning happens. That means we need simple, consistent tools that show what students understand, how they are thinking, and where misconceptions are starting to form.
Exit slips are one of the most simple & effective formative assessment tools for this.π
Used well, they give you immediate insight into:
- conceptual understanding
- student thinking and reasoning
- learning gaps and misconceptions
- next steps for teaching
But not all exit slips are equal.
In this blog, I’m sharing how I use “This or That” Exit Slips to move beyond basic reflection and into meaningful conceptual assessment in IB PYP classrooms.
π If you want the practical classroom strategies, skip ahead to the sections below on Maths, Literacy, and Units of Inquiry.
You can also access the full ready-to-use resource here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/IB-PYP-Assessment-Concepts-This-or-That-Exit-Slips-12076610
Why Exit Slips Work in the IB PYP
Exit slips work because they are:
- quick
- focused
- low-pressure
- highly revealing
They fit naturally into inquiry-based classrooms because they don’t interrupt learning but rather they extend it.
In the IB PYP, the goal is not just to check answers. It is to understand:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/IB-PYP-Assessment-Concepts-This-or-That-Exit-Slips-12076610
- how students make connections
- how they apply concepts
- how their thinking is developing over time
Well-designed exit slips give you exactly that.
What Makes “This or That” Exit Slips Different?
Most exit slips ask one fixed question.
These don’t.
“This or That” exit slips give students two conceptual pathways to respond.
That matters because it:
- increases student engagement instantly
- supports different learning preferences
- encourages deeper thinking (not just recall)
- allows for choice and voice (student agency)
- makes assessment feel less like a test
Students are not just answering -
they are choosing how to show understanding.
π These exit slips were designed for Grades 3–5 IB PYP classrooms to support reflection, assessment, and agency without adding teacher workload.
Key Benefits - A Quick Overview
If you are short on time, here’s what these exit slips do in practice:
- Capture real-time conceptual understanding
- Help identify misconceptions immediately
- Support differentiation without extra planning
- Strengthen student reflection and metacognition
- Increase student ownership of learning
- Work across Maths, Literacy, and UOI
- Take 5–10 minutes max at the end of a lesson
Scroll for Practical Classroom Ideas
Below are simple, ready-to-use ways to implement exit slips in your IB PYP classroom across core learning areas.
Maths: Using Exit Slips for Conceptual Understanding
In IB PYP Maths, we are not just checking answers, we are assessing reasoning, strategy, and understanding of concepts
Try this:
After a problem-solving lesson, give students a choice:
- Explain the strategy you used and why it worked
- Show your thinking using a model or diagram
Or:
- Which method helped you solve the problem today? Explain why
- Create your own example that shows today’s concept
What you’ll see:
- whether students understand why a strategy works
- how confidently they can represent ideas
- who is still relying on procedures without understanding
Literacy: Exit Slips for Reading & Writing Reflection
Exit slips in literacy help students slow down and think about meaning, not just completion.
Reading:
- What is the main message of today’s text? How do you know?
- Choose a character and explain how they changed
Writing:
- What improved in your writing today?
- What was difficult and how did you solve it?
What you’ll see:
- depth of comprehension
- ability to infer and justify
- reflection on writing process (not just product)
Units of Inquiry: Making Thinking Visible
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/IB-PYP-Assessment-Concepts-This-or-That-Exit-Slips-12076610This is where exit slips are most powerful in the IB PYP.
They help students connect learning across lessons and
see the “bigger picture”.
Try this:
- Which concept best connects to today’s learning? Why?
- Give a real-world example of today’s idea
Or:
- Which ATL skill did you use today? How did it help you learn?
- How did you show a Learner Profile attribute today?
What you’ll see:
- conceptual transfer
- understanding of big ideas
- student ability to connect learning across contexts
Why This Matters in IB PYP Assessment
If we only assess final outcomes, we miss the thinking that leads to understanding.
Exit slips give you:
- real-time evidence of learning
- insight into student thinking patterns
- clear next steps for teaching
- a simple way to make assessment visible every day
They are small, but they are powerful when used consistently.
My Final Thought
In the IB PYP, the goal is always the same:
help students understand their learning, not just complete it.
Exit slips are one of the simplest ways to make that happen , especially when they are designed with choice, reflection, and conceptual thinking at the centre.
π Grab the full set of This or That Exit Slips for IB PYP (Grades 3–5) here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/IB-PYP-Assessment-Concepts-This-or-That-Exit-Slips-12076610
Enjoy!
P.S You can find many more assessment and reflection tools for the IB PYP in this collection right here. There's something for big kids and little kids.
