Group work and projects are great for engagement, but they make it hard to know what each student understands. The final product looks good, but did everyone contribute, or did one student carry the group? An individual exit ticket at the end of a work session answers that question.
Ask what they did, not what the group did
"What did you personally work on today?" seems obvious, but students rarely get asked it. Their answers show who is contributing and who is coasting, and the question itself nudges students to take ownership.
Ask about the next step
"What does your group need to do next, and what's your part?" This is a planning question that also checks understanding. A student who can't name the next step is probably lost in the project, and you can check in with them first tomorrow.
Ask one content question
Even during a project, end with one question about the content. "Explain one idea your project is built on." If every member of a group can answer it, the project is doing its job. If only one can, you know where to focus.
Use it for fair grading
Exit tickets from each work day give you evidence for individual grades on group projects. Students who know you're watching individual contributions tend to contribute more. The how to grade group projects fairly article on Elevate the Norm explains how to combine group and individual scores.
Keep it fast
Two questions, two minutes, done. Groups are usually packing up anyway. A 3-2-1 exit ticket also works well here: 3 things you did, 2 things you learned, 1 question you still have.
Keep going
Need something ready to use tomorrow? The Teacher Emergency Toolkit has grab-and-go packs for de-escalation, work refusal, behavior documentation, and sub plans.