The 3-2-1 Exit Ticket: How It Works and Ways to Change It Up

The 3-2-1 exit ticket is one of the most popular closing activities in schools. It is simple, works in any subject, and gives you more than one kind of information in a single slip.

The classic 3-2-1

• 3 things you learned today.
• 2 things you found interesting.
• 1 question you still have.

The three shows you what stuck. The two shows you what caught their interest. The one shows you what is still confusing. That last line is often the most useful part of the whole slip.

Why it works

Students have to pull ideas out of memory instead of just recognizing them. They also have to decide what matters most. And the question at the end gives quiet students a safe way to say “I am lost on this part.”

Keep it to five minutes

The 3-2-1 can drag if students write paragraphs. Tell them: short phrases are fine. Put a timer on the board. Three minutes is often enough for middle school, and two to three for high school.

New versions to try

• Vocabulary 3-2-1: 3 new words, 2 used in a sentence, 1 you are unsure about.
• Math 3-2-1: 3 steps of today’s method, 2 places mistakes happen, 1 problem you would ask about.
• History 3-2-1: 3 key events, 2 causes, 1 effect we still see today.
• Science 3-2-1: 3 observations, 2 explanations, 1 thing you would test next.
• Reading 3-2-1: 3 events in the chapter, 2 character traits, 1 prediction.

Use the “1” first

When you read the stack, start with the questions. Group the ones that ask the same thing. Answer the biggest group at the start of tomorrow’s class. Students will see that their question mattered.

Make it easier for younger students

For sixth graders, or early in the year, try a 1-1-1 instead. One thing you learned, one thing you liked, one question. It keeps the same idea with less writing. Move up to the full 3-2-1 once students know the routine. You can also let students answer the “3” part with quick drawings. The goal is to get their thinking on paper, not to test how fast they write.

Project it in one click

The 3-2-1 is in the library of our free exit ticket tool. Open it, show it on the board, and start the timer. It is also one of the options on the spinner if you want a game to choose.

Looking for more formats? See our full list of exit ticket ideas.