When written thoughtfully, exams can be powerful tools for assessing higher-order learning—not just memorization. This workshop helps you rethink tests as opportunities for critical thinking and alignment. We’ll examine common pitfalls and evidence-based techniques for writing high-quality true/false, multiple-choice, and essay questions. Through guided practice, you’ll draft or revise questions for one of your own courses, strengthening clarity, rigor, and alignment with your course outcomes.

This workshop may be counted toward the Pedagogy concentration of the Achievement in Pedagogy Badge, offered through the Graduate Student Teaching Initiative. For more information, visit the Achievement in Pedagogy Badge website or contact tahelp@pitt.edu.

As a result of completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Recognize when it is appropriate to assess students using exams;
• Explain the pros and cons of different types of test questions in order to determine when each type might be appropriate to use;
• Explain how test results can be used as an instructional tool; and
• Begin to compose clear, appropriately challenging test questions which align with learning objectives and learning-objective levels.