FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What action should a teacher take if a student repeatedly fails a mastery test?

1. Provide extra credit opportunities

2. Revisit prerequisite skills

3. Increase the difficulty of the tests

4. Ignore the student’s performance

The correct answer is: Revisit prerequisite skills

When a student repeatedly fails a mastery test, revisiting prerequisite skills is crucial. This approach addresses the foundational knowledge and competencies that the student may have missed or not fully mastered before encountering the current material. By reinforcing these prerequisite skills, the teacher can help the student build a stronger understanding, creating a solid foundation that supports further learning. This is particularly important in a sequential learning process where concepts often build upon one another. If essential skills or knowledge are lacking, a student is likely to struggle with more advanced topics. By returning to these basics, the teacher not only helps the student grasp the required content but also boosts their confidence and motivation in the subject matter. Other approaches, such as increasing the difficulty of the tests or providing extra credit opportunities, may not adequately address the underlying issues contributing to the student's struggles. Ignoring the student's performance is counterproductive, as it avoids engagement with the learning process altogether.