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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Effects of testing

Overview

  • Influence: Effects of testing
  • Domain: Teaching Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Feedback
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to considerably accelerate
  • Influence Definition: This effects of standardized assessments, national or state-wide mandated assessments, or assessments in the class.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 6
  • Number of studies: 506
  • Number of students: 7,013,189
  • Number of effects: 1,576
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.64
  • Robustness index: 5

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
International Journal of Testing Phelps The effect of testing on student achievement, 1910–2010 2012 Effects of testing 177 7,000,000 640 0.55
Psychological Bulletin Rowland The effect of testing versus restudy on retention: A meta-analytic review of the testing effect 2014 Effects of testing 61 NA 159 0.50
Journal of Technology Education Haynie Effects of test taking on retention learning in technology education: a meta-analysis 2007 Test taking on retention learning 8 NA 8 0.76
WERA Educational Journal Adesope, Trevisan, & Trevisan The Neglected Benefits of Testing: Implications for Classroom and Self-Directed Learning 2013 Effects of pre-testing 89 11,700 226 0.63
Review of Educational Research Fuchs & Fuchs Test Procedure Bias: A Meta-Analysis of Examiner Familiarity Effects 1986 Examiner familiarity effects 22 1,489 34 0.28
Evaluation Review Phelps Test frequency, stakes, and feedback in student achievement: A meta-analysis. 2019 Effects of testing 149 NA 509 0.84
TOTAL/AVERAGE 506 7,013,189 1,576 0.59
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