In which type of assessment are student progress and understanding evaluated continuously throughout the instructional process?

Formative assessment is designed to evaluate student progress and understanding continuously throughout the instructional process. This type of assessment focuses on monitoring student learning during instruction to provide ongoing feedback that can be used to improve teaching and learning. Teachers can use formative assessments to adjust their teaching strategies, modify lessons, and provide support tailored to individual or group needs.

By regularly assessing students’ understanding, educators can identify areas where students may struggle, allowing for timely interventions before the final evaluation takes place. This proactive approach fosters a more supportive learning environment where students can develop their skills progressively.

In contrast, summative assessments are typically conducted at the end of an instructional unit to evaluate overall learning outcomes rather than provide immediate feedback during the learning process. Diagnostic assessments are pre-tests given before instruction to determine students' prior knowledge and skills, while standardized assessments measure student performance against a common standard, often in a comparative context. Each of these assessment types serves distinct purposes, but formative assessment stands out for its continuous and responsive nature in the instructional context.