Scratchie

Intro

The Scratchie activity lets you assess students using the Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique (IF-AT), a highly interactive, team-based approach to multiple-choice assessment.

In a Scratchie activity, students work together to answer each question. Instead of simply selecting an option, the team “scratches” their chosen answer to reveal whether it is correct. This mirrors the experience of a scratch card, where the correct response is hidden beneath a surface layer. The key benefit is immediate feedback, allowing the team to confirm their understanding or rethink their reasoning instantly.

Scratchie is designed primarily for team assessment, not individual work. Typically, one student acts as the team leader, making the final selection on behalf of the group after discussion. This encourages collaboration, peer instruction, and shared decision-making.

Scoring and Attempts

Scoring in Scratchie is directly linked to the number of attempts:

• First attempt correct → full marks (e.g. 4 points)

• Second attempt correct → reduced marks (e.g. 2 points)

• Third attempt correct → minimal marks (e.g. 1 point)

• Further attempts → no points

This means the fewer attempts a team needs, the higher their score.

Overall, Scratchie turns assessment into a collaborative learning experience, where discussion matters, feedback is immediate, and learning happens in real time.

Example scratchie question for students

Why you want to use Scratchie as an educational activity?

• Encourages discussion and consensus-building Students must debate, justify, and agree on an answer before committing to it.

• Drives high levels of engagement The combination of instant feedback and shared team scoring creates energy, focus, and often lively debate within teams.

• Promotes accountability within teams Because the score is shared, every student has a stake in selecting the correct answer early.

• Supports constructive feedback and reflection Students can raise “burning questions”, encouraging deeper clarification and reflection on misunderstandings.

• Strengthens team dynamics over time Working in consistent teams helps students develop trust, awareness of strengths, and collaborative skills.

Educational Insight

Scratchie goes beyond assessment, it becomes a learning experience in itself.

• Deepens understanding through peer learning Students learn by explaining, challenging, and refining ideas together.

• Shifts focus from grades to reasoning The goal becomes finding the correct answer through discussion, not just scoring points.

• Reinforces knowledge through immediate feedback Instant confirmation helps students correct misconceptions in real time.

• Improves retention and application Collaborative problem-solving leads to stronger memory and better transfer of knowledge.

• Builds communication and critical thinking skills Students practise articulating ideas, negotiating perspectives, and making decisions under uncertainty.

What can I use Scratchie for?

Scratchie is ideal for any form of team-based assessment, particularly where you want students to apply knowledge rather than recall it individually.

• Team-Based Learning (TBL), especially for Team Readiness Assurance Tests (tRAT)

• Concept checking and reinforcement after lectures or preparatory work

• Formative assessment with immediate feedback loops

• Surfacing misconceptions through team discussion and class-wide follow-up

It also enables a student–teacher–student feedback cycle, where questions raised by teams can be discussed collectively.

Pedagogies that use Scratchie: Team Based Learning uses scratchie extensively for its Team readiness assurance test (iRAT)

How does it work?

You create a set of multiple-choice and or Very Short answer questions for students.

Students work in teams to discuss each question. Once the team agree on the answer, then one student, the team leader, selects the team’s answer on behalf of the team

The team then receives immediate feedback:

• If correct → they earn points immediately

• If incorrect → they try again, selecting from the remaining options

Scoring depends on attempts:

• Fewer attempts = higher score

• More attempts = lower score

If students need clarification, they can submit a “burning question”, which is addressed later by the teacher and the class.

As the teacher, you can monitor team responses and attempts in real time, giving you immediate visibility into how each group is progressing through the activity. This allows you to quickly identify common knowledge gaps, misconceptions, or questions that multiple teams are struggling with, so you can address them at the right moment. In addition, you can view all the “burning questions” raised by teams, helping you pinpoint areas of uncertainty or debate. Once all teams have completed the activity, these questions can be used to facilitate rich, whole-class discussion, encouraging students to reflect, challenge ideas, and deepen their understanding collectively.