Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) Practice

Which type of assessment is informal and occurs during instruction?

1. Summative Assessment

2. Formative Assessment

3. Diagnostic Assessment

4. Performance Assessment

The correct answer is: Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is characterized by its informal nature and typically occurs during instruction. This type of assessment aims to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to enhance their learning. It allows educators to gauge students' understanding in real-time, adjust their instructional strategies, and address any learning gaps immediately. Formative assessments can take various forms, such as quizzes, class discussions, observational notes, or peer reviews, all of which help in gathering information about student progress throughout the learning process. The primary goal is to support student learning rather than to evaluate or grade afterward, which is the case with summative assessments. Other types of assessment, such as summative assessments, are conducted after instruction to measure and evaluate student learning outcomes, while diagnostic assessments focus on identifying students' strengths and weaknesses prior to instruction. Performance assessments may evaluate a student’s ability to perform specific tasks but are generally structured and occur at different points rather than continuously during the instructional process.