The diagram below shows the instructional process and the primary professional

responsibilities of a teacher.

One important professional responsibility of a teacher is creating a high-quality

assessment that reflects the student’s performance and understanding of the
content.

Study the materials ahead and prepare answers to the following questions.

1. What is assessment and its goals?

2. What are the types of assessments?

3. How many times will assessments be given within the instructional period?

4. What are the characteristics of “high-quality assessment”?

5. What is inclusive assessment and how is it facilitated?

What is Educational Assessment?

Educational Assessment 101: Definition, Types, Examples & Importance

Whenever there is talk about educational assessments, students writing exams is

the first image to float in many people’s minds.

Well, the real picture is quite different.

Assessments are much more than just tests. They are also about exploring and
measuring learning in different ways.

Assessments help identify what students have learned, what they need to learn
next, and how they can learn more effectively. They also help teachers plan,
improve, and evaluate their teaching and educational programs better.

But what is educational assessment, and why is it important for teachers and
students?

Definition and Purpose of Educational Assessment

“Assessment is an integral part of instruction, as it determines whether or not

the goals of education are being met. Through assessment, we reflect on both
teaching and learning, and inspire hard questions such as ‘Are we teaching what
we think we are teaching?’ and ‘Are students learning what they are supposed to
be learning?'”

– Grant Wiggins, assessment expert

Educational assessment is the process of collecting and analyzing evidence of

learning in different settings and contexts. It helps teachers, students, parents,
and other stakeholders understand what learners know and can do, as well as
identify their strengths and areas for improvement.

Almost every educational environment today uses assessments, whether end-of-

chapter quizzes and final exams or large-scale standardized testing, such as the
Common Core, SAT, and GRE tests.

Educational assessments can take many forms:

 They may involve formal tests or performance-based activities.
 They may be administered online or be paper based.
 They may be objective (requiring a single correct answer) or subjective
(requiring an open-ended answer, such as in an essay).
 They may be formative (carried out at various points during an educational
course) or summative (carried out at the end of a course).

The purpose of educational assessment is to enhance learning and improve

educational quality by enabling educators to make informed decisions that
support learners’ growth and development.

Using education assessments, educators can:

 Align instruction with learning goals and standards
 Provide feedback and guidance to learners
 Track learners’ progress and achievement over time
 Adjust teaching strategies based on learners’ needs
 Motivate and engage learners in their learning
 Evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs
 Communicate learners’ progress and achievement to stakeholders
 Foster a culture of growth and accountability

Now that we know the definition and meaning of educational assessment and its
aims, let us dive into the various types of assessments that educators can use to
measure and enhance learning outcomes.
Different Types of Educational Assessments

Teachers and schools use different types of education assessments to check how
well students learn. Some of these types are fixed by the system, but others are
the teachers’ choice.
1. Diagnostic Assessment

What do you do before you start teaching a new topic to your students? Do you
just dive into the lesson and hope for the best? Or do you try to find out what
students already know and can do and what they need to learn?

If you choose the latter option, you’re using diagnostic assessment.

“Diagnostic assessment strategies provide frequent, quick opportunities for us to
 reflect on our pupils’ thinking, strengths, and weaknesses: interpreted with skill,
they can give useful insights into pupil learning and the next steps we should
take as teachers.”

– Simon Cox, secondary school math teacher & EEF math specialist

Diagnostic assessment checks your students’ prior knowledge and skills before
you begin a new lesson or unit. It helps you identify their strengths and
weaknesses and any misconceptions or gaps in their understanding.

This way, you can plan your instruction to suit their needs and abilities and
avoid wasting time on things they already know or don’t need to know.

There are many tools and techniques you can use for diagnostic assessment,
such as:
 Pre-tests: These are short quizzes or tests covering the main concepts or
skills you will teach in the lesson or unit. They give you and your students a
clear picture of how much they already know and what they still need to
learn.
 Surveys or questionnaires: These are questions you ask your students to
rate their confidence or interest in the topic or to share their opinions or
experiences. They give you and your students an insight into their attitudes
and motivations toward learning.
 Checklists: These are lists of skills or concepts your students are expected to
master by the end of the lesson or unit. They give you and your students a
way of tracking their progress and setting goals.

Diagnostic assessment is useful not only for teachers but also for students. It
helps them become aware of their learning and set realistic expectations. It also
helps them start the learning process on the same page as you and work towards
achieving the desired outcomes.
2. Formative Assessment

Children do not always learn what we teach. That is why the most important
assessment does not happen at the end of learning – it happens during the
learning, when there is still time to do something with the information.

– Dylan Wiliam, Emeritus professor of educational assessment at the UCL

 Institute of Education

Formative assessments are used throughout the educational process to identify

problem areas and improve teaching and learning. They are not meant to grade
students but to provide feedback and guidance for both students and teachers.

Some formative educational assessment examples are:

 Quizzes: These are short tests that check students’ understanding of key
concepts or skills. They can be given at the beginning, middle, or end of a
lesson, graded or ungraded.
 Exit tickets: These are short questions or tasks that students complete at the
end of a lesson to show what they have learned or still have questions about.
 Think-pair-share: This cooperative learning strategy involves students
thinking individually about a question or problem, then discussing it with a
partner, and finally sharing their ideas with the whole class.
 Self-assessment: This process involves students reflecting on their learning
and progress using rubrics, checklists, or portfolios.
 Peer feedback: This process involves students giving and receiving
constructive comments and suggestions from their classmates.
 Flashcards: Cards with questions on one side and answers on the other

Formative assessments offer many benefits for students and teachers. For
students, formative assessments can:
 Increase their motivation and engagement in learning
 Help them identify their strengths and weaknesses
 Help them monitor their learning and set goals
 Help them develop metacognitive and self-regulation skills

For teachers, formative assessments can:

 Provide valuable information about students’ learning needs and progress
 Help them adjust their instruction and provide differentiated support
 Help them communicate effectively with students and parents
 Help them evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching methods and materials

Formative assessments offer many benefits for students and teachers. For
students, formative assessments can:
 Increase their motivation and engagement in learning
 Help them identify their strengths and weaknesses
 Help them monitor their learning and set goals
 Help them develop metacognitive and self-regulation skills

For teachers, formative assessments can:

 Provide valuable information about students’ learning needs and progress
 Help them adjust their instruction and provide differentiated support
 Help them communicate effectively with students and parents
 Help them evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching methods and materials
4. Standardized Assessments

Standardized assessments, or standardized tests, are given and scored

consistently across large groups of students. They are often used to measure
students’ proficiency in particular subjects or skills or to compare their
performance.

They also help teachers and students discover why a student might be
struggling, succeeding, or accelerating on their grade-level standards and plan
the next step in their assessment for learning.

Some standardized educational assessment examples are grade-level tests and

the SAT.

These tests are usually objective, with question types like multiple-choice and
true-or-false. However, some tests also include subjective items, like short-
answer and essay questions. They can be given in person or online.
5. Performance-Based Assessments

Performance-based assessments require students to demonstrate their skills and

knowledge in a specific domain, such as writing an essay or delivering a speech.
They evaluate students’ ability to use what they have learned in a meaningful
way rather than just memorizing facts or information.

This type of assessment is becoming more popular as competency-based

education gains traction. Competency-based education emphasizes students’
mastery of specific outcomes rather than following a fixed curriculum.
Performance-based assessments are usually conducted face-to-face, but they can
also be done online in some cases. For example, students enrolled in a web
development or graphic design course may showcase their learning by creating
a digital project using online tools.
6. Norm & Criterion-Referenced Assessments

Referenced assessments are assessments that compare students’ results to a

particular standard. There are two types of referenced assessments: norm-
referenced and criterion-referenced.

Norm-referenced assessments compare students’ performance with the

performance of a large group of similar students, whose score is referred to as
the norm.

For example, imagine all students in Grade 9 take the same norm-referenced
test. If a particular student scores in the 91st percentile, that means they did
better than 90% of the sample serving as the norm.

Norm-referenced tests are often used to rank or classify students according to

their relative abilities or achievements.

Criterion-referenced assessments are tests that measure students’ performance

against a set of standards or criteria, which are based on the curriculum and
learning objectives.

For example, students in a class may be required to score 80% or higher on a

particular test before moving on to the next concept.

Criterion-referenced tests are often used to determine whether students have

achieved the expected learning outcomes or demonstrated proficiency in a
certain skill or subject.
7. Ipsative Assessments

The term “ipsative” comes from the Latin word “ipse” which means “of the
self.” Ipsative assessment is a type of assessment that compares a student’s
performance with their previous performance rather than with the performance
of others or with a set of criteria.

Ipsative assessment measures a student’s personal improvement and progress

over time rather than their absolute level of achievement. It can also help
students identify their strengths and weaknesses and set realistic goals.
8. Alternative Assessments

Alternative assessments are different from traditional tests, such as multiple-

choice or true-or-false questions. They can include various tasks and activities
that allow students to demonstrate their learning in different ways. They are
often more flexible and student-centered than traditional tests.

Some alternative educational assessment examples are:

 Observations: Teachers watch and record students’ behaviors, actions, and
interactions in the classroom or other settings.
 Essays: Students write responses expressing their thoughts, opinions, or
arguments on a topic or question.
 Performance tasks: Students perform a task that requires them to apply their
knowledge and skills to create a product or a solution.
 Exhibitions and demonstrations: Students display or present their work or
performance to the class or an audience.
 Portfolios: Students collect and showcase their work and achievements over
time.
 Journals: Students record their learning experiences and thoughts.
 Project work: Students work individually or collaboratively on a task that
involves planning, researching, designing, and producing a product or a
solution related to a real-world problem or issue.
 Interviews: Teachers ask, and students answer questions about a topic or
problem orally. They can do this in-person or via video interview mediums,
such as video conferencing tools and online quizzes.
9. Authentic Assessments

Authentic education assessments are alternative assessments that measure

students’ ability to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations and
problems.
They require students to perform complex and action-oriented tasks that reflect
the standards and expectations of the discipline or profession. They also require
students to use higher-order critical thinking skills.

Some examples of authentic educational assessment tasks are:

 Projects: Students plan, research, design, and produce a product or a solution
related to a real-world problem or issue.
 Portfolios: Students collect and showcase their work and achievements over
time and reflect on their learning process and outcomes.
 Real-world applications: Students apply their knowledge and skills to
authentic contexts or situations they may encounter in their personal or
professional lives.

Authentic assessments have many benefits for deeper learning and skill
development. For example, they can:
 Help students connect their learning to real-life situations and problems by
simulating authentic contexts or scenarios
 Help students develop transferable skills for their future careers or studies by
requiring them to use higher-order, critical thinking skills
 Help teachers evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching methods and
materials by measuring the impact of their instruction on students’ learning
outcomes

Now that we have discussed the various types of educational assessments and
their purposes, let’s understand their importance in the education system and
their role in improving teaching and learning.
Importance of Assessments in the Education System

Educational assessments are powerful tools that can enhance learning and
teaching when done well. Some of the benefits of a good educational
assessment are:
 Progress monitoring: Assessments help educators track students’ progress
and identify their strengths and weaknesses so that they can provide
appropriate support and intervention.
 Feedback: They provide feedback to students about their performance,
which they can use to monitor their learning and set goals for improvement.
 Motivation: They motivate students, as they know they will be assessed on
what they have learned and how well they have learned it.
 Alignment: They help educators align their instruction with the learning
objectives and outcomes and determine the most effective strategies and
methods to help students achieve them.
 Curriculum improvement: They can improve the curriculum by identifying
gaps, redundancies, or inconsistencies in the content and skills taught.
 Evaluation: They can be used to evaluate teachers’ and school systems’
performance and the impact of different teaching practices on student
learning.
 Differentiation: They help educators differentiate their instruction and
assessment according to their students’ diverse needs and abilities and
provide them with multiple ways to demonstrate their learning.

These are the benefits of “good” educational assessment, but what makes
assessments good?
What Makes an Educational Assessment “Good”?

A good educational assessment should follow three basic principles of quality:

1. Assessments should be aligned with defined objectives and outcomes

Clarity about the desired knowledge and skills students are expected to learn
and demonstrate is essential for designing and implementing effective
assessments. The assessments should match the learning objectives and
outcomes and measure the extent to which students have achieved them.
2. Assessments should be valid

Validity refers to how well an assessment measures what it claims to measure.

Different types of assessments are suitable for different types of learning, and
they should be chosen accordingly.

For example, a multiple-choice test may be a valid way to assess students’

knowledge of historical facts but not their research skills.
3. Assessments should be reliable

Reliability measures how consistent and accurate an assessment is. A reliable

assessment should produce similar results when administered under the same
conditions and minimize errors and biases that may affect the scores.

For example, a reliable assessment should have clear instructions, fair scoring
criteria, and adequate time limits.

We’ve gone through the basics of educational assessment and how quizzes are
often used for it. But did you know you can create and share quizzes online
easily? Before finishing this post, let’s check out the steps for making an online
educational quiz.
Boost Teaching Outcomes With Educational Assessments

Educational assessment is a vital process that helps teachers, students, and other
stakeholders measure and improve learning outcomes. It can take various forms,
such as formative, summative, diagnostic, and more. Educators can gain a
comprehensive picture of students’ strengths, weaknesses, progress, and needs
using various assessment methods and tools.

One of the most effective tools for creating online assessments is ProProfs Quiz
Maker. ProProfs allows you to create quizzes and exams in minutes and ask
questions in 15+ different ways. You can customize your quizzes with
multimedia, themes, custom settings, and feedback options. ProProfs Quiz
Maker software helps you make learning fun and interactive for your students.
Frequently Asked Questions:

What do you mean by educational assessment?

Educational assessment is the systematic process of documenting and using

empirical data on the knowledge, skills, attitudes, aptitudes, and beliefs of
students to refine programs and improve student learning.

What is an example of an educational assessment?’

Some examples of educational assessments are:

Standardized tests: Tests that measure students’ performance against pre-

defined goals or outcomes

Pop quizzes: Short, informal tests that check students’ understanding of a topic
or lesson

Portfolios: Collections of students’ work that demonstrate their skills,

knowledge, and progress over time

Performance assessments: Tasks or activities that require students to

demonstrate their understanding and application of concepts or skills in a real-
world context

Rubrics: Scoring guides that describe the criteria and levels of quality for
students’ work

Self-assessments: Processes that involve students evaluating their own learning

and identifying their strengths and areas for improvement

Peer-assessments: Processes that involve students giving and receiving feedback

from their classmates on their work

What is the need of educational assessment?

Educational assessment helps monitor learning progress, provide feedback to

students on their strengths and weaknesses, guide instruction and curriculum
development, evaluate the effectiveness and quality of educational programs,
and influence educational policies and decisions.
Why Is Assessment Important?

Asking students to demonstrate their understanding of the subject matter is

critical to the learning process; it is essential to evaluate whether the educational
goals and standards of the lessons are being met.

July 15, 2008

Assessment is an integral part of instruction, as it determines whether or not the

goals of education are being met. Assessment affects decisions about grades,
placement, advancement, instructional needs, curriculum, and, in some cases,
funding. Assessment inspire us to ask these hard questions: "Are we teaching
what we think we are teaching?" "Are students learning what they are supposed
to be learning?" "Is there a way to teach the subject better, thereby promoting
better learning?"

Today's students need to know not only the basic reading and arithmetic skills,
but also skills that will allow them to face a world that is continually changing.
They must be able to think critically, to analyze, and to make inferences.
Changes in the skills base and knowledge our students need require new
learning goals; these new learning goals change the relationship between
assessment and instruction. Teachers need to take an active role in making
decisions about the purpose of assessment and the content that is being
assessed.

Grant Wiggins, a nationally recognized assessment expert, shared his thoughts

on performance assessments, standardized tests, and more in an Edutopia.org
interview. Read his answers to the following questions from the interview and
reflect on his ideas:

 What distinction do you make between 'testing' and 'assessment'?

 Why is it important that teachers consider assessment before they begin

planning lessons or projects?

 Standardized tests, such as the SAT, are used by schools as a predictor of a

student's future success. Is this a valid use of these tests?

Do you agree with his statements? Why or why not? Discuss your opinions with
your peers.

When assessment works best, it does the following:

Provides diagnostic feedback

 What is the student's knowledge base?

 What is the student's performance base?

 What are the student's needs?

 What has to be taught?

Helps educators set standards

 What performance demonstrates understanding?

 What performance demonstrates knowledge?

 What performance demonstrates mastery?

Evaluates progress

 How is the student doing?

 What teaching methods or approaches are most effective?

 What changes or modifications to a lesson are needed to help the student?

Relates to a student's progress

 What has the student learned?

 Can the student talk about the new knowledge?

 Can the student demonstrate and use the new skills in other projects?

Motivates performance

For student self-evaluation:

 Now that I'm in charge of my learning, how am I doing?

 Now that I know how I'm doing, how can I do better?

 What else would I like to learn?

For teacher self-evaluation:

 What is working for the students?

 What can I do to help the students more?

 In what direction should we go next?

Continue to the next section of the guide, Types of Assessment.

This guide is organized into six sections:

 Introduction

 Why Is Assessment Important?

 Types of Assessment

 How Do Rubrics Help?

 Workshop Activities

 Resources for Assessment