What is the primary purpose of formative assessment during a unit of instruction?

What is the primary purpose of formative assessment during a unit of instruction?

• A. To monitor student progress and inform instruction
• B. To assign grades at the end of the unit
• C. To substitute for standardized testing
• D. To evaluate school performance

Answer: (A)

Formative assessment during a unit is about gathering information on what students are understanding as learning happens and using that to shape teaching. It helps you monitor progress and adjust instruction in real time, and it provides feedback that students can use to improve before the unit is finished. This ongoing, instructional use distinguishes it from other kinds of assessment. It isn’t meant to assign final grades at the end of the unit, which is the role of summative assessment. It also isn’t designed to substitute for standardized tests or to measure overall school performance, which fall under external or accountability assessments.

Formative assessment during a unit is about gathering information on what students are understanding as learning happens and using that to shape teaching. It helps you monitor progress and adjust instruction in real time, and it provides feedback that students can use to improve before the unit is finished. This ongoing, instructional use distinguishes it from other kinds of assessment.

It isn’t meant to assign final grades at the end of the unit, which is the role of summative assessment. It also isn’t designed to substitute for standardized tests or to measure overall school performance, which fall under external or accountability assessments.