What characterizes a formative assessment?

A formative assessment is characterized by its ongoing nature and its primary focus on monitoring student learning throughout the instructional process. This type of assessment is designed to provide immediate feedback to both students and educators, allowing for adjustments in teaching strategies and learning approaches in real-time, rather than solely at the conclusion of a unit or course.

By continuously checking for understanding, formative assessments help identify areas where students may struggle, enabling timely interventions and support. This proactive approach emphasizes learning and improvement rather than solely measuring performance against set standards at the end of instruction, which distinguishes it from summative assessments. Such assessments are often informal and can include methods like quizzes, discussions, observations, and self-assessments that inform both parties about the learning process.