Types of assessment 1

Read about the different types of assessments and choose the best name for each type.

Formal assessment CorrectToggle Dropdown

This type of assessment is preplanned and standardised and designed to find out what the learners

have learned. The majority of assessment in educational settings is this type and is usually in the

form of tests. There are clear right and wrong answers, and learners receive a grade or score to

show whether they have passed or failed.

Informal assessment CorrectToggle Dropdown

This assessment results from teachers’ day-to-day observations of how learners behave and

perform during usual classroom activities. This type of assessment offers important insight into the

learners’ understanding and ability that may not be represented accurately through formal

assessment.

Continuous assessment CorrectToggle Dropdown

Rather than waiting until the end of the course, the learners are assessed regularly throughout. This

gives both teachers and learners information on what they know/can do and identifies areas of

weakness. Teachers may or may not grade these different pieces of work depending on the

institution’s assessment policy.

Formative assessment CorrectToggle Dropdown

This is developmental. It gives teachers information about learners’ understanding and helps them

to identify areas they may need to reteach or spend time on. Teachers also give feedback to
learners on what they need to do to improve. Effective feedback will affect what the teacher and the

learners do next. It is not graded pass or fail.

Peer assessment CorrectToggle Dropdown

Learners give feedback to their classmates on their work. Learners assess each other’s work using

a set of criteria. This type of assessment is seen to have educational value, as the learners

assessing are also learning at the same time.

Self-assessment CorrectToggle Dropdown

Learners monitor their own progress and decide how well they are doing and what they need to

work on. Learners assess their own work or performance using clear criteria. This type of

assessment allows students to become more independent.

Portfolio assessment CorrectToggle Dropdown

A purposeful and selective collection of a learner’s work and their self-assessment. It is used to

document progress and achievement over time with regard to specific criteria. Learners usually

select the samples of their work.

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