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Intro To Assessment

This document discusses different types of assessments used in education, including initial, diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments. It provides an overview of each type of assessment, including their purposes and when they are typically used. For example, initial assessments are used for placement and diagnostic assessments identify specific strengths and weaknesses, while formative assessments are ongoing to inform teaching and learning and summative assessments evaluate learning at the end of a period of instruction. The document also explores advantages and disadvantages of different assessment types through discussion questions.

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56 views4 pages

Intro To Assessment

This document discusses different types of assessments used in education, including initial, diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments. It provides an overview of each type of assessment, including their purposes and when they are typically used. For example, initial assessments are used for placement and diagnostic assessments identify specific strengths and weaknesses, while formative assessments are ongoing to inform teaching and learning and summative assessments evaluate learning at the end of a period of instruction. The document also explores advantages and disadvantages of different assessment types through discussion questions.

Uploaded by

seattlechaz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Assessment Literacy Series

Types of Assessment (2 of 12)

Types of Assessment
(Video at: www.trinitycollege.com/TESOL-AL)

This video looks at the different types of assessment learners and teachers
experience on a learning journey and considers reasons for these different types of
assessment.

0:09 – 3:18 Types of assessment overview 6.50 – 8:09 Formative assessment


3:19 – 5:05 Initial assessment 8:10 – 9:43 Summative assessment
5:06 – 6:49 Diagnostic assessment

1. Before watching the video

What types of tests or exams do you use or know?

What are the purposes of these tests (e.g. are they to decide which level students
should be in)?

What do you think the following types of tests are?

Initial assessment

Diagnostic assessment

Formative assessment

Summative assessment

1
Assessment Literacy Series
Types of Assessment (2 of 12)

2. During the video

Now you either watch the rest of video and complete the table below or watch the
parts that are of interest to you can and complete only those sections.

Types of Assessment Overview (00:09)

Match the terms on the left with the terms on the right. You will not be able to
match one of the terms.

1) Initial assessment a) Assessment of learning


2) Diagnostic assessment b) Assessment for learning
3) Formative assessment c) Placement test
4) Summative assessment

Assessment Purpose When usually Example


type given

Initial
(03:19)

Diagnostic
(05:06)

Formative
(06:50)

Summative
(08:10)

Whole video activity.

What specific types of tests are mentioned in the video? Complete the mindmap
below. Add arrows as necessary.

Interviews

Tests / Exams

2
Assessment Literacy Series
Types of Assessment (2 of 12)

3. Discussion points
To what extent do you agree with the following statements? Indicate the degree of
agreement or disagreement by marking it on the continuum.

a) Initial assessments should always test the four skills, grammar and
vocabulary.

Strongly Neither Strongly


Disgaree Agree nor disagree Agree

b) There is no need to have different initial and diagnostic assessment.

Strongly Neither Strongly


Disgaree Agree nor disagree Agree

c) All formative assessments should be informal and all summative assessments


should be formal.

Strongly Neither Strongly


Disgaree Agree nor disagree Agree

d) Formative assessments should mirror the summative assessments students


are going to take.

Strongly Neither Strongly


Disgaree Agree nor disagree Agree

3
Assessment Literacy Series
Types of Assessment (2 of 12)

Now consider the following questions below.

a) Why do many initial assessments not have a speaking component?

b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an initial assessment


for diagnostic purposes?

c) When might you consider making a formative assessment formal and/or a


summative assessment informal?

d) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using formative


assessments that mirror the students’ summative assessments?

4. Further learning

If you want to learn more about this topic, look at these resources:

Books
Baxter, A., & Seligson, P. (1997). Evaluating Your Students. London: Richmond
Publishing.
Hughes, A. (2002). Testing for Language Teachers. Cambridge: CUP.
Tummons, J. (2011). Assessing Learning in the Lifelong Learning Sector. Exeter:
Learning Matters.

Websites
http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/6-types-assessment-learning/
https://phil-race.co.uk/

Journal article
Lee, I. (2007). ‘Assessment for learning: integrating assessment, teaching, and
learning in the ESL/EFL writing classroom’. Canadian Modern Language Review, 64
(1), pp199-213.

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