Study skills · Principles
Worked Examples: Move from Guidance to Independent Practice
When a procedure is unfamiliar, a complete solution gives you something concrete to inspect. Your job is to understand the decisions, then gradually take over those decisions yourself. Reading and independent solving play different roles in the session.
What supports this approach
The IES practice guide recommends alternating worked solutions with problem-solving exercises. The amount of support should fit the learner’s current knowledge.
Evidence and background: IES: Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning.
Methods to put it into practice
Annotate a model
Write a short reason beside each important step of a solved question. Check symbols, units and the final answer.
Complete missing steps
Use a partially solved question. Supply a missing operation or calculation, then compare it with a full solution.
Fade the support
Move from a complete model to a partial one and then an independent problem. Return to support when a specific gap appears.
A repeatable study pattern
Study one complete solution.
Explain its key decisions.
Finish a related incomplete solution.
Solve another problem without the model, then check.
Example: calculate a unit price
A pack of 4 notebooks costs $12. The worked solution is $12 ÷ 4 = $3 per notebook. Division finds the cost of one item when the total covers equal-priced items.
Completion problem: 5 notebooks cost $20, so the unit price is $20 ÷ __ = $__ per notebook. Fill the blanks with 5 and 4. Explain why multiplying the price by the count would answer the wrong question.
Independent attempt: 3 notebooks cost $15. Hide the model and calculate $5 per notebook. Check by reversing the calculation: 3 × $5 = $15. Then decide which pack is cheaper per notebook, rather than which has the smaller total price.
Try it in another subject
In science, study a worked speed calculation with units, complete a missing time value, and then solve a new distance/time problem independently.
Common mistakes and adjustments
Do not copy the model and count that as an independent answer. Hide it for the final attempt.
A student who already solves the task reliably may need varied problems rather than more complete models.
An example week
This is an example week, not a prescribed review interval. Adjust the tasks, time and support to the learner’s course and recall results.
| Day | Task | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Annotate a unit-price worked example | 15 |
| Wednesday | Complete missing steps and solve independently | 20 |
| Friday | Compare three new shopping examples | 15 |
Put the week in your calendar
Replace the bracketed date and time zone, then paste the prompt into Magic Generate in School Calendar. Review dates, durations and tasks before adding the events. See the Magic Generate guide.
Systems that use this principle
Some systems use this principle as a core step; others offer it as an optional extension.
Pomodoro for Studying: Plan Focused Work and Useful Breaks
Organise study blocks with the Pomodoro approach while choosing effective work inside the timer. Includes a realistic session, adaptations and evidence limits.
Offers this principle as an optional extensionA Worked-Example Practice Cycle for Maths and Science
Follow a complete algebra practice cycle from a solved example to missing steps, independent work and later mixed questions, with answer checks included.
Uses this principle in the core routineFor a subject-specific plan, see Math study routines. Or return to all study principles and systems.
Sources and review
Reviewed 2026-09-27. Examples and calendar schedules are editorial illustrations.