Live Quiz vs Self-Paced Practice: When to Use Each
Most of us build a good set of questions and then wonder how best to run them: gather the whole class for a shared check, or let students work through it independently? The good news is you don't have to choose once and for all. In ClassKite you build the questions once and run the same set as a live or self-paced practice — a live quiz for the class today, independent practice tomorrow. This guide walks through when each mode earns its place.
When a live quiz wins
A live quiz is the right call when you want the class moving together and you want to see the results land in real time. You push a question to everyone, watch responses come in, and decide your next move on the spot.
- Starters and plenaries — a quick shared check at the top or tail of a lesson.
- Modelling a tricky concept where you want everyone on the same question at the same moment.
- Whole-class assessment for learning, where the pace is yours to control.
- Spotting misconceptions fast: the Live Student Grid shows in-progress, done, flagged-for-help and a "struggling" signal so you can step in.
Objective answers auto-mark on submit, so you read the room instead of marking. If exit tickets are your thing, exit tickets that mark themselves shows the same idea in miniature.
When self-paced practice wins
Self-paced mode lets students work independently at their own speed. It's honest about what it is: independent practice in the browser, not a homework system with due dates or submission tracking. Reach for it when individual pace matters more than a shared moment.
- Independent practice in class while you circulate and support individuals.
- Catch-up for students who missed a lesson, or who need another run at the questions.
- Early finishers who can push ahead without waiting for the class.
- Mixed-attainment groups where a single class pace would hold some back and rush others.
Either way, students join free with a class code in the browser — no accounts to set up. For more on picking the right tool for the job, choosing online assessment tools for your classroom is a useful companion read, alongside the online assessment tools overview.
The same questions, both ways
Because the question set is shared, you can run a concept live as a starter, then reopen it as self-paced practice for homework-style independent work or revision. Objective questions auto-mark in both modes, so the marking load doesn't change with the mode you choose.
Build a question set and run it live or self-paced — students join free with a class code.
Frequently asked questions
Is running a live quiz free, or do I need a paid plan?
Running practice — both live and self-paced — with instant per-student feedback is free on Teacher Basic. The class-wide Live Student Grid and the reports (completion, average score, accuracy, score trend, CSV) are on the paid Plus and School plans.
Can students change their pace once I've started?
It depends on the mode. In a live quiz you control the pace and push questions to the whole class together; in self-paced practice each student moves at their own speed. You pick the mode when you run the set.
Does self-paced practice work like homework with due dates?
No. Self-paced practice is independent practice students complete in the browser at their own speed. There are no due dates, submission tracking or gradebook — it's practice, not an LMS assignment system.
Related reading: track student progress during live practice, how to reduce marking time, and the live practice feature page.