Pre- and post-tests are one of the clearest, most actionable ways to measure instructional effectiveness and student growth. They help you identify what students already know, target your review, and then measure whether your re-teaching truly made an impact.

With Edcite, creating and analyzing pre- and post-tests is simple, and the results are powerful. Educators gain clear, standards-aligned insights, and students gain ownership of their growth. 

Three Simple Steps to Creating Pre- and Post-Tests

1. Create a pre-test aligned to your standards and learning goals.
2. Make a copy of your pre-test
   (Edcite Schools users: unlock your Common Assessment before copying, then re-lock both versions.)
3. Rename the copy: we recommend including “Post-Test” in the title for easy reporting.

That’s it! Your pre- and post-tests are now aligned, comparable, and ready for growth analysis. 

Inform Your Review with Data

After students complete the pre-test, use Edcite’s reports to strategically target your review. While many reports in Edcite can help you do this, one simple method is to:

• Open the Summary Report
• Toggle to Standard Details
• Sort standards into three re-teach categories:

1. Quick Review (80%+ mastery): Spiral these standards into bell ringers, exit tickets, or short independent practice. 
2. Collaborative Re-Teach (50–80% mastery): Use partner or small-group work. With over half the class demonstrating mastery, students can support each other while refining understanding. 
3. Teacher-Led Re-Teach (Below 50% mastery): Provide direct modeling and explicit instruction. Use the Item Analysis Report to identify specific misconceptions and address exactly where students struggled. 

Pro Tip: Create small groups for students who did not master content in the “Quick Review” bucket. Targeted support during or outside class time can close gaps quickly.

Measure the Effectiveness of Review and Celebrate the Wins! 

One quick and easy way to measure the effectiveness of your review is to pull up the Summary Reports for both your pre- and post-tests at the same time. Compare overall mastery, standards growth, and individual student progress at a glance. Use this information to: 

1. Measure Effectiveness: Identify which standards improved significantly and where gaps remain. Reflect on instructional moves that led to growth and what adjustments may be needed next time. 
2. Celebrate the Wins: Highlight measurable student growth and newly mastered standards. Consider calling home, awarding certificates, or using any of these ideas for celebrating students for their achievement and growth! 

For Edcite Schools Users: Growth Reports

Edcite Schools users can also pull up our growth reports for pre- and post-tests, easily viewing bar and line graphs that show them growth by student, class, teacher, school, and even district, depending on your permission levels! These reports do the math for you, making it quicker and easier to see growth across students and standards! 

Pre- and post-tests aren’t about adding another assessment. They’re about getting clear on what students know and what still needs work. When you can see growth clearly, it’s easier to adjust your instruction, and it makes celebrating progress feel real.

For a deeper dive, check out our full webinar on Using Edcite for Pre- and Post-Testing.