Badge YourClassroom
Strategy guide

Test Review Games

Last updated: October 21, 2026

Test review games are great when every student answers every question, and wasteful when one fast student answers while the rest watch. The trick is to keep the fun and add accountability: everyone writes an answer before any team scores. The games below work in most subjects with little prep.

Which test review games work best?

Pick games where every student answers each question individually, then teams score. Review bingo, whiteboard races and quiz-quiz-trade all do this.

  1. Review bingo: answers on cards, questions called
  2. Trashketball: teams answer on whiteboards, correct teams shoot
  3. Jeopardy-style board with all teams answering
  4. Quiz-quiz-trade: students quiz partners with cards, then swap
  5. Around the world with flashcards

Review game comparison

GamePrepEvery student answers?
Review bingoLowYes
TrashketballLowYes, on whiteboards
Jeopardy-styleMediumOnly if all teams answer
Quiz-quiz-tradeMediumYes
HangmanLowNo—use as filler

How do I keep review games focused on learning?

Have everyone write answers before revealing, discuss wrong answers briefly, and track which questions most students miss—those are your reteach topics before the test.

  1. Everyone writes before teams score.
  2. Pause on common wrong answers.
  3. Track missed questions.
  4. Mix teams randomly.
  5. Keep a fast pace.

What does a review game lesson look like?

**Grade level:** 7th grade science, ecosystems test tomorrow. **Setup:** Random teams of four, each with a whiteboard. **Play (30 min):** The teacher reads a question; every student writes their own answer; teams agree on one and hold it up. Correct teams roll a die for points. **Tracking:** The teacher tallies missed questions; 'food web energy flow' is missed by 5 of 7 teams. **Last 10 min:** Quick reteach of energy flow with a diagram.

Frequently asked questions about test review games

What are good review games for middle school?
Trashketball, whiteboard races, review bingo and quiz-quiz-trade.
How long should a review game last?
20–40 minutes, leaving time to reteach missed topics.
Do review games improve test scores?
Retrieval practice helps learning; games help when they make every student retrieve answers.
What if a team falls far behind?
Use random bonus points or dice rolls to keep games close.

Sources & citations

Claims about pricing, features, privacy, and classroom use are checked against the sources below. Vendor pages are the primary reference for product-specific details.

  1. [1]U.S. Department of Education

    Federal K–12 education policy and student privacy guidance

  2. [2]ISTE Standards for Educators

    Technology integration and instructional design benchmarks

  3. [3]Common Sense Education

    EdTech privacy ratings and classroom implementation reviews

  4. [4]Learning Forward — Standards for Professional Learning

    Evidence-based professional learning practices for teachers

  5. [5]ASCD — Whole Child education resources

    Instructional leadership and classroom practice research

  6. [6]Badge Your Classroom

    Publisher of this guide