As someone who joined teaching after spending some time in academia, I already enjoyed reading and absorbing journals to further my subject knowledge. I also found that I enjoyed reading and learning about pedagogy. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has been a valuable resource, and I would recommend it to any new teacher or anyone interested in pedagogy.

In this article, I’ll explore what hinge questions are, why they’re an effective tool for formative assessment, and how to use them at key points in a lesson.

What is a hinge question?

To understand what a hinge question is and why we use them, let’s take a look at the core principle of Assessment for Learning (AfL). AfL is the philosophy that assessment can be used to inform and adapt teaching and provide feedback to students who can use this knowledge to support their learning.

Formative assessment is a method of checking understanding during the lesson and can provide immediate feedback for both student and teacher to improve learning in real time. Hinge questions are a fantastic way to use formative assessment in your lessons.

So, what are hinge questions?

Hinge questions—often multiple-choice—are used during lessons to gauge student comprehension. These questions are crucial for assessing whether students have grasped a concept and are prepared to advance.

Young studetns in a classroom are raising their hands to answer a hinge question from the teacher.

Hinge question example

Here is an example hinge question suitable for a GCSE Biology lesson on the heart, designed to target a common misconception.

A healthy patient’s blood is leaving the lungs to reach their big toe. Which of the following chambers of the heart will it need to pass through?

  1. Right atrium and right ventricle
  2. Left atrium and left ventricle
  3. Right atrium and left ventricle
  4. Left atrium and right ventricle

The correct answer is B. Students often confuse the left and right sides of the heart. If students answer Option A, this could indicate that they understand how blood flows through the heart but have mixed up the two sides. However, if students select C or D, this could be helpful feedback indicating that the lesson may need to be adapted and retaught before independent study.

How to present hinge questions

Hinge questions can be presented in the lesson in multiple ways. This can include using mini whiteboards, a show of hands, and targeted questioning. There are advantages and disadvantages to each method.

  • Mini whiteboards: I tend to lean towards mini whiteboards as they provide an immediate response with no students able to hide; however, this can also provide time for students to influence each other’s responses.
  • Show of hands: This can be helpful with minimal preparation and more instantaneous feedback; however, students can be influenced by others, and they may feel self-conscious or singled out if they are in the minority.
  • Targeted questioning: This can offer a useful opportunity for students to learn by listening to their peers; however, it only provides a small feedback sample. Student selection should be carefully considered when targeted questioning is used.
Students in a classroom are smiling and raising their hand to answer a hinge question that the teacher has presented during a lesson.

When can hinge questions be used?

Hinge questions are most effective at the critical ‘hinge point’ in the lesson. Let us look at a few scenarios. These scenarios are not exhaustive; there are plenty of other situations when a hinge question would be handy.

  1. After introducing a key concept and before moving on to any application tasks, you need to ensure that students have understood it. This is when a hinge question comes in handy! For example, in photosynthesis, it’s essential that students understand the key reactants and products, so a hinge question confirming the photosynthesis equation would confirm students’ knowledge and allow you to move on to application.
  2. In addition, when you are transitioning between two key topics and you need to make sure the initial key concept is understood, a hinge question can provide valuable feedback—for example, photosynthesis and respiration, which both have similar reactants and products.
  3. Finally, a hinge question can be useful to check understanding before students move on to independent study, such as a worksheet. After using the hinge question to confirm understanding, you can circulate and check in on individual students during the independent study task.

Hinge questions are multiple-choice questions used during lessons to provide valuable feedback to students and teachers. When used at the hinge points of a lesson, they can confirm students’ understanding of the taught material. Hinge questions can be delivered in multiple ways to suit the lesson style and situation. They are engaging and fun; hopefully, they can open the door to better learning for you and your students.

Nimitray J. headshot.

Nimitray J.

Nimitray is an experienced Science teacher and Head of Year at a sixth-form school in Leicester. Before teaching, he completed a PhD in Microbiology researching human pathogens, and draws on this background to inspire his students. He is also an examiner for GCSE and A Level, and uses his insight into marking to help students perfect their exam technique. Nimitray is a tutor at PMT Education. Outside of tutoring, he enjoys running, watching football and cricket, and is currently learning to play the piano!

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