Types of Assessment

Diagnostic Assessment  

• Assesses a student's performance during instruction and usually occurs regularly throughout the instruction process. 
• Measures a student's achievement at the end of instruction. 
• Assesses a student's strengths, weaknesses, knowledge, and skills prior to instruction. 

Formative Assessment 

• Compares a student's performance against other students. 
• Measures a student's achievement at the end of instruction. 
• Measures a student's performance against a goal or specific standard. 
• Assesses a student's performance during instruction and usually occurs regularly throughout the instruction process. 

Summative Assessment 

• Measures a student's achievement at the end of instruction. 
• Assesses a student's strengths, weaknesses, knowledge, and skills prior instruction. 
• Evaluates student performance at periodic intervals. 

Norm-Referenced Assessment

• Evaluates student performance at periodic intervals. 
• Compares a student's performance against other students. 
• Assesses a student's performance during instruction. 

Criterion-Referenced Assessment

• Measures a student's achievement at the end of instruction. 
• Can predict student performance on end-of-the-year summative assessments. 
• Measures a student's performance against a goal or standard. 
• Compares a student's performance against other students. 

Interim/Benchmark Assessment

• Evaluates student performance at periodic intervals. 
• Measures a student's achievement at the end of instruction. 
• Measures a student's performance against a standard or goal.