Free Printable Student Self-Assessment Sheet

About these student self-assessment handouts

Self-assessment asks students to judge their own work against criteria, and to back the judgment with proof. Done well, it builds the habit of checking work before handing it in. Done badly, it is a row of circles filled in without thought. This sheet is built to push toward the first.

The grid lists eight habits that apply to almost any assignment: followed the directions, used time well, checked work, asked for help when stuck, finished all the parts, used what we learned in class, met the deadline and worked well with others. A ninth row is left blank for a criterion you choose, such as used at least three sources. Students mark one of four levels, from not yet to beyond, and write an example or proof in the last column.

The proof column is what matters. Asking for an example turns a rating into a claim that can be checked. A student who circles got it for checked my work should be able to write what they checked. When the proof is thin, that tells you something too.

Below the grid, two boxes ask for one thing done well and one thing to work on next, and a larger box is left for your comments. Hand the sheet out with the assignment so students can see the criteria up front, and have them fill it in before turning in the work. Compare their ratings with yours, and discuss the gaps.

How to use them

1. Print one copy per student and fill in the class and subject boxes if you want them on every sheet.
2. Hand it out with the assignment so students know the criteria from the start.
3. Before turning in the work, students mark one circle in each row and add proof in the last column.
4. They write one thing they did well and one thing to work on next.
5. Add your comments, and discuss any rows where your view differs from the student's.

Classroom tips

• Use the blank ninth row for the criterion that matters most on this assignment, such as organized my notes or cited my sources.
• Do one self-assessment as a class on a sample piece of work before students try their own.
• Read the proof column first. A ratings row with no proof is a good place for a quick question.
• Do not grade the ratings. Students rate more honestly when the sheet is a tool for learning and not a score.

Last reviewed 2026-10-03. Handout Hero designs are original and made for this site. They are general reference material; check your own school, district or tradition where it matters.