Writing questions is hard work. I have just done sets for each of the new AQA/a A2 topics and it has done my head in! Students do find it hard to make their questions clear, understandable and unambiguous, and making up a crossword demonstrates this well. This can be done at the end of a topic or sub-topic, as well as an “extra”, and then reinforces topic knowledge as well as the need for clarity and specific-ness.

There are many free, online programmes for constructing crosswords, and many institutions also have ones such as Hot Potato or Moodle. Use them, they save another type of grief!

Each group writes its clues, aka questions, and gets the crossword grid constructed. A finite amount of time for this is advisable! Then the groups swap crosswords and try and do the one they have been give. Here is
the real learning outcome – I’ve had students “ask” far more bluntly than I would ever dare “who wrote this rubbish?” and comment very unfavourably on the lack of clarity and unclear questions.

Evie Bentley,
ATP Editor