formative assessment
Mid-lesson progress check
Formative assessment is evaluation conducted during learning rather than at its conclusion, designed to guide instruction and improve student performance.
A teacher checking comprehension mid-lesson, a quick quiz to identify gaps, or written feedback on a draft all count as formative assessment.
The goal is adjustment, not final judgment: The formative assessments showed students struggling with fractions, so we spent another week on them.
Contrast with summative assessment, which measures achievement at the end.
- exit ticketsEnd-of-lesson written reflections
- pretestAssessment before instruction
- scaffoldingTemporary exterior work platform
- think-pair-shareStaged classroom discussion technique
- low stakesMinimal risk or consequence
check for understanding · peer review · goal setting · rubrics · concept mapping · skill development · diagnostic · constructive criticism · personalized learning · real-time data · student engagement · active learning · ongoing · questioning · K-12 schools · constructivism · quiz · adjustment
formative assessmentfinal exam
Concluding course assessment
final examination · exit exam · cumulative exam · comprehensive exam · post-test
formative assessmenthigh-stakes testing
Exams with significant consequences
standardized testing · standardized test · SAT · ACT · GRE
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