Assessment in the context of education refers to the systematic process of evaluating a student’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and overall performance in a given subject or area of learning. In schools, teachers use various forms of assessment to measure student learning and to inform instructional practices. There are generally two main types of assessments:
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Formative Assessment:
- Conducted during the learning process.
- Aims to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback.
- Examples include quizzes, classroom discussions, observations, and draft submissions.
- Helps teachers identify areas where students may need additional support or challenges.
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Summative Assessment:
- Conducted at the end of an instructional period.
- Aims to evaluate student learning against certain benchmarks or standards.
- Examples include final exams, end-of-unit tests, standardized tests, and projects.
- Provides a cumulative overview of what students have learned and can also inform future curriculum development.
Assessments can be both formal (e.g., tests, exams) and informal (e.g., class participation, homework). They can also be diagnostic, helping identify students' strengths and weaknesses before instruction begins, or benchmark, measuring progress toward specific learning goals over time.
Teachers use assessment data not only to evaluate student performance but also to improve their teaching strategies, modify curriculum, and support individual student needs. Effective assessments should be aligned with learning objectives and provide clear and actionable insights into the learning process.