End of term quiz ideas for secondary classes

Round ideas that work

Look back at the term

Five questions on what the class actually covered. It is retrieval practice dressed up as a quiz, and it shows pupils how much they now know. Keep it to the big ideas, not the small print.

General knowledge

Capitals, famous scientists, inventions, flags, authors. A mixed round gives every pupil a chance at something.

Rarest right answer

Give an open prompt like name a Christmas film and every pupil or team writes one answer. Right answers that nobody else gave score more. It is the round that gets the loudest reaction at the reveal.

The seasonal round

Winter, summer or the holiday itself: songs, films, food and traditions. Keep it broad so it works for every pupil whatever they celebrate.

Picture round

Famous buildings, close ups of everyday objects, or baby photos of staff if your school is up for it.

Teacher versus class

Finish with a round where the class takes on the teacher. The class usually wins, and that is the point.

An hour, planned

For a single lesson of 50 minutes, drop the picture round. For a tutor time slot, the rarest right answer round on its own is enough.

The rarest answer round in Nichenaut

Nichenaut is a free browser quiz for pupils aged 13 and over that runs the rarest right answer round for you. The teacher hosts class mode on the board, pupils join with a room code on their own phones, tablets or laptops, and after each prompt the board reveals every answer from the most common to the rarest. Pupils without a device can share in pairs or teams.

Seasonal and fun prompts that suit the end of term:

• Name a Christmas film
• Name a Christmas song or carol
• Name something on a Christmas dinner table
• Name something people wear in winter
• Name a place people go on holiday
• Name a winter sport
• Name something associated with Halloween
• Name an event in the school year (days, trips, holidays and traditions)

Or keep it academic with the science, history, geography and words topics, so the fun round still counts as learning.

Class rooms take up to 25 players, have no chat (only preset reactions), never use the 18+ prompts, and show no adverts or paid offers. You can remove a player or skip a prompt at any time.

Host an end of term mission

Keeping it calm

• Set the rules first. One answer per team, no phones except for answering, and the quizmaster has the final say.
• Mark as you go. Scores at the end of each round keep the energy up and stop arguments piling up.
• Small prizes, or none. Bragging rights are usually enough for teenagers.
• Check the content. Look at your rounds through the eyes of every pupil in the room before the day, especially seasonal ones.