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Version 1.1 – Updated August 2021

Practice testing

Overview

  • Influence: Practice testing
  • Domain: Student Learning Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Learning strategies
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Practice testing is a well-established strategy for improving student learning. The aim of practice testing is to support long-term retention and increase access to retrieving the “to-be-remembered” information. Sometimes called retrieval practice, practice testing, or test-enhanced learning.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 4
  • Number of studies: 567
  • Number of students: 150,851
  • Number of effects: 692
  • Effect size: 0.46

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author First Author's Country Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
American Educational Research Journal Kulik, Kulik, & Bangert USA Effects of practice on aptitude and achievement test scores 1984 Practice testing 19 0 19 0.42
Psychological Bulletin Pan & Rickard USA Transfer of test-enhanced learning: Meta-analytic review and synthesis 2018 Practice testing 67 10,382 192 0.40
Nature: Science of Learning Donoghue & Hattie Australia Learning strategies: A synthesis and conceptual model 2018 Practice testing 374 6,033 374 0.74
Journal of Applied Psychology Hausknecht, Halpert, Di Paolo, & Moriarty-Gerrard USA Retesting in selection: a meta-analysis of coaching and practice effects for tests of cognitive ability 2007 Practice and retesting effects 107 134,436 107 0.26
TOTAL/AVERAGE 567 150,851 692 0.46

Confidence

The Confidence is the average of these four measures, each divided into five approximately equal groups and assigned a value from 1 to 5 based on the following criteria:

  • Number of Meta-analyses
    • 1 = 1
    • 2 = 2–3
    • 3 = 4–6
    • 4 = 7–9
    • 5 = 10+
  • Number of Studies
    • 1 = 1–10
    • 2 = 11–50
    • 3 = 51–200
    • 4 = 201–400
    • 5 = 400+
  • Number of Students
    • 1 = 1–2,500
    • 2 = 2,501–10,000
    • 3 = 10,000–20,000
    • 4 = 20,000–100,000
    • 5 = 100,001+
  • Number of Effects
    • 1 = 1–100
    • 2 = 101–300
    • 3 = 301–600
    • 4 = 601–1,200
    • 5 = 1,200+
Confidences
Number of Meta-Analyses Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Overall Confidence
Confidence Factor 3 5 5 4 4
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