Exit Ticket Template: What to Include and How to Build One

A good exit ticket template saves you time every single day. Build it once, and all you change is the question. Here is what to include and how to lay it out.

The parts every template needs

• Name and date line. So you can sort and track over time.
• Question space. A box for today’s prompt, or leave it blank and project the question.
• Answer lines. Lined space keeps answers readable.
• Optional self-check. A row of numbers 0 to 5 students can circle.

Template layouts that work

The basic slip

Name, date, one question, and four or five lines. This works for almost any lesson.

The two-part slip

Top half: “Show me you can do it” with one problem. Bottom half: “How sure are you?” with a 0 to 5 scale. You learn whether they can do it and whether they know they can.

The 3-2-1 slip

Three numbered lines, then two, then one. Great for the 3-2-1 exit ticket and its variations.

The sketch box

A large blank box with two lines underneath. Students draw a diagram, then label or explain it. Good for science, geography, and math.

Keep it simple

Skip clip art and fancy fonts. They use ink and take space away from student answers. Use a clear font that is easy to read from a projector and on paper.

Make one template for the whole year

If you leave the question box blank, one template works every day. You put the question on the board, and students answer on the same slip they always use. They learn the routine fast.

Digital templates

If you want a digital version, make the same layout as a slide. Put the name line, question box, and answer space on one slide. Duplicate it each day and change only the question. Students can answer on paper while the slide stays on the board. Keep a master slide with no question in it, and you will never have to rebuild the layout. One file can last you the entire school year, and students will know exactly where to look for the question each day.

Use a free template

Our exit ticket tool builds printable slips for you. Choose a prompt, pick 2, 4, or 6 per page, and print. Each slip has a name line, the question, and writing lines.

Want more paper ideas? Read our guide to printable exit tickets. For a matching start-of-class sheet, see our free bell ringer sheet.