How Do I Self-Assess My Work?

Self-assessment is a valuable practice that helps students take ownership of their learning. This article outlines three key strategies to support effective self-assessment.

1. Use Exemplars

An exemplar is a model or example of what needs to be accomplished. Quite often, an exemplar demonstrates what it means to go above and beyond. If exemplars have been provided, refer to them throughout all stages of an assessment.

Use exemplars as guides, not as personal copies for submission. Personal voice, choice, knowledge, and understanding are all very important when referencing an exemplar.

2. Use Rubrics

Many assessments include a rubric. Rubrics can look different across subjects and schools, but they all serve the same purpose: to communicate what it means to be proficient in a learning objective.

Read the rubric carefully and ask questions to clarify what is being asked. Before submitting work for assessment, actively compare your completed work to the assessment criteria on the rubric and keep these three questions in mind:

Has the learning objective been achieved?
What is missing in regards to the learning objective?
What steps are needed to achieve the learning objective?

3. Reference Previously Provided Feedback

Throughout a unit, feedback is provided in many forms: oral, written, and visual. Access previously provided feedback and compare it to the current assessment task. Use critical thinking skills to assess what can be applied to the task at hand.

💡 SpacesEDU Tip: In SpacesEDU, many teachers add curriculum tags to student posts. The specific criteria within the learning objective can be referenced by hovering the cursor over the tag.

Updated on: 24/07/2026

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