What is the primary purpose of formative assessment?

The primary purpose of formative assessment is to monitor progress and provide feedback. This type of assessment is conducted during the learning process, allowing educators to identify students' strengths and weaknesses. By gathering information on student performance, teachers can adjust their instruction to meet the needs of their students more effectively. Formative assessments can take various forms, such as quizzes, discussions, and observations, and aim to enhance the learning experience rather than solely measuring achievement.

This ongoing feedback is crucial as it helps students understand their learning journey, facilitates targeted teaching strategies, and ultimately supports the students’ academic growth. It fosters a proactive approach to learning, where interventions can be made before formal evaluations, contributing to improved outcomes.

While assigning final grades, preparing students for state exams, and evaluating teachers' performance are important tasks within the educational framework, they do not encapsulate the essence of formative assessment, which emphasizes improvement and continuous learning.