A Exemplar Jenga | Assessment Gamification | Editable Template

A Exemplar Jenga is a structured, high-engagement assessment literacy activity designed to help students deeply understand what quality looks like. Delivered through an easy-to-use, fully editable PowerPoint template, this resource transforms the annotation of an A exemplar into an interactive, student-centred experience. Rather than passively reading through a model response, students actively analyse, justify and articulate how the exemplar meets the marking criteria. This activity makes the standard visible — and explainable.

How Does It Work?

Each Jenga block contains a question aligned to your marking guide or proficiency scale.

As students remove a block, they must:

• Locate evidence within the exemplar
• Annotate the text
• Justify how it meets the criteria
• Optional: Explain what elevates it beyond a C or B response

The activity can be completed as a whole-class, small-group or rotation-based task. It is ideal for the lesson immediately prior to drafting, when students need clarity and confidence before beginning their own response. Simply insert your exemplar, customise the questions if needed, and you’re ready to go.

Why do teachers love this resource?

✔ Reduces passive teacher talk
✔ Makes marking criteria explicit and visible
✔ Strengthens students’ understanding of standards
✔ Encourages higher-order thinking and justification
✔ Fully editable and adaptable across subjects

This is not engagement for the sake of engagement — it is purposeful cognitive activation aligned to assessment outcomes. Simply insert your exemplar, customise your prompts, and watch students actively decode the standard.