The problem this solves
“I make practice tests but I keep doing well on them and badly on the real one.”
Primary keyword: self testing design
What you'll learn
- Why easy tests produce false confidence
- Five ways to make a test honest
- How to score the test before you take it
- A weekly honest-test log
The science behind it: Calibration
Calibration is the alignment between how confident you feel that you know something and whether you can actually perform under retrieval.
Why it matters
Good calibration lets you spend study time where it matters; poor calibration lets confident illusion mask weak understanding.
How to apply it
- Predict your test score before taking a practice test, then compare.
- Force yourself to retrieve before checking the answer.
- Treat the gap between confidence and performance as the most important signal in your study log.
Common mistakes
- Letting familiarity (re-reading fluency) inflate confidence.
- Avoiding self-tests to preserve a sense of mastery.
- Mistaking the absence of errors during review for evidence of mastery.
Read the full concept: Calibration.
Where this fits
Part of module Self-Direction.
More articles in this module
- What Is Metacognition? A Practical Guide : metacognition
- Calibrate Your Confidence : metacognition calibration
- Build a Learning Plan From Scratch : learning plan
- Design Your Own Course : design your own course
- Metalearning: The Learning of Learning : metalearning