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What is informal assessment?
Informal assessment involves unplanned feedback, comments, and responses aimed at guiding students’ learning without recording results or making fixed judgments.
What is the main purpose of formal assessment?
To evaluate students’ knowledge and skills in a systematic way and provide an appraisal of their achievement.
What is the main purpose of formative assessment?
To support students’ ongoing learning and help them develop their skills and competencies.
What are the main types of assessment?
The main types include formative assessment (ongoing checks during learning), summative assessment (final evaluations like exams), diagnostic assessment (identifying strengths/weaknesses)
What is a summative assessment?
A summative assessment is an evaluation conducted at the end of an instructional period to measure a learner’s overall achievement or progress.
How does informal assessment differ from formal assessment in terms of planning?
Informal assessment is spontaneous and unplanned, while formal assessment is systematic and planned.
What are some common types of formal language assessments?
Common types include standardized tests (e.g., the CELF-5), language proficiency exams (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS), and diagnostic assessments used by speech-language pathologists.
What role does feedback play in formative assessment?
Feedback provides guidance to help students improve their skills and learning outcomes.
What is the difference between objective and subjective assessments?
Objective assessments (e.g., multiple-choice questions) have clear, correct answers, while subjective assessments (e.g., essays) require personal judgment and interpretation.
What are some examples of summative assessments?
Examples include final exams, end-of-term projects, standardized tests, final presentations, and semester reports.
What is one purpose of informal assessment during classroom tasks?
To provide feedback that helps students improve their skills and understanding.
Are formal language assessments always accurate?
While they are designed to be reliable, no test is 100% accurate, as many factors can influence results, such as anxiety or test-taking conditions.
Name two examples of summative assessment.
Final exams and general proficiency exams.
How does summative assessment differ from formative assessment?
Summative assessment occurs at the end of a learning period to evaluate overall achievement, while formative assessment happens during the learning process to monitor progress and guide instruction.
Why is summative assessment important?
Summative assessment provides a final measure of student learning, helps assign grades, and informs decisions like advancement, graduation, or placement in higher-level courses.