Types of

Assessment
Learning Objectives:
• Identify and differentiate various types of
assessments, including traditional,
authentic, formative, summative, norm-
referenced, criterion-referenced,
contextualized, decontextualized, analytic,
and holistic assessments.
• Apply appropriate assessment types in
different educational contexts by
designing or selecting suitable evaluation
methods for various learning outcomes.
• Appreciate the role of diverse assessment
methods in enhancing student learning
and fostering a more comprehensive
evaluation system.
Traditional Assessment
• Traditional assessment refers to conventional
methods of testing, often characterized by
paper-and-pencil exams, multiple-choice
questions, true or false items, and short-
answer tests. These assessments primarily
evaluate a student's ability to recall or
recognize information. They are commonly
used in standardized testing and classroom
quizzes.
Examples of Traditional Assessments:
• Multiple-choice tests
• Fill-in-the-blank exercises
• True or false statements
• Matching type questions
• Short-answer and essay exams
 Authentic Assessment
• Authentic assessment, on the other hand,
focuses on real-world application. It requires
students to demonstrate their knowledge and
skills in practical situations, promoting critical
thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
These assessments often involve projects,
performances, and portfolios that mirror real-
life tasks and situations.
 Examples of Authentic
Assessments:
• Portfolios: A collection of a student’s work
over time showcasing growth.
• Performance-Based Tasks: Presentations,
debates, or role-playing activities.
• Project-Based Learning: Creating models,
conducting experiments, or developing
real-world solutions.
• Self and Peer Assessments: Encouraging
students to reflect on their learning and
provide constructive feedback.
 Key Differences
Traditional Assessment Authentic Assessment
Focuses on rote Emphasizes real-world
memorization and recall application
Includes projects,
Usually involves
portfolios, and
standardized tests
performances
Often graded with Uses rubrics for a more
objective scoring subjective evaluation
Often involves
Encourages individual
collaboration and
work
creativity
Formative Evaluation

• Formative evaluation occurs during the

learning process and aims to provide
feedback that helps students improve
their understanding and skills before final
assessments. These evaluations are low-
stakes and guide both teaching and
learning.
Examples of Formative
Assessments:
• Quizzes: Short, ungraded quizzes to check
understanding.
• Classroom Discussions: Engaging students in
dialogue to assess comprehension.
• Peer Reviews: Allowing students to give
and receive feedback.
• Exit Tickets: Asking students to summarize
what they learned before leaving class.
• Draft Submissions: Reviewing and
providing feedback before finalizing an
assignment.
Summative Evaluation

• Summative evaluation occurs after

instruction and assesses student learning
at the end of an instructional period.
These evaluations are typically high-stakes
and contribute to final grades.
 Examples of Summative
Assessments:
• Final Exams: Comprehensive tests covering
all content.
• End-of-Term Projects: Research papers,
capstone projects, or presentations.
• Standardized Tests: National competency
tests.
• Performance Assessments: Final
performances, recitals, or exhibitions
Key Differences
Formative Evaluation Summative Evaluation
Conducted after
Occurs during learning
instruction
Provides feedback to Measures final
improve learning achievement
 High-stakes
Low-stakes (ungraded
(significantly impacts
or minimally graded)
grades)
Examples: quizzes, Examples: final exams,
drafts, peer feedback standardized tests
Norm-Referenced
Assessment
• Norm-referenced assessments compare a
student’s performance to a national or
group average. These assessments
determine where a student ranks relative
to peers and are commonly used for
placement and competitive selection.
Examples of Norm-Referenced
Assessments:

• IQ tests
•TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign
Language)
•Entrance Exams for Elite Schools
•Personality Tests
Criterion-Referenced
Assessment
• Criterion-referenced assessments
measure a student’s performance against
a set standard or specific learning
objectives rather than comparing them to
others. These assessments evaluate
mastery of content.
Examples of Criterion-
Referenced Assessments:
• Teacher-made tests based on learning
objectives
• Driving tests
• Certification exams (e.g., medical board
exams, professional licensure tests)
Key Differences

Norm-Referenced Criterion-Referenced
Assessment Assessment
Compares students to Measures against set
peers criteria
Uses percentile ranks Uses mastery levels
Contextualized Assessment

• Contextualized assessments involve real-world

situations and problem-solving activities that
make learning more relevant. These
assessments help students apply their
knowledge in meaningful contexts.
Examples:

• Writing a business proposal in an

entrepreneurship course.
• Conducting experiments in a chemistry
lab.
• Solving real-world math problems related
to finance or engineering.
Decontextualized Assessment

• Decontextualized assessments focus on

abstract or isolated knowledge, often
requiring students to recall facts without
applying them to real-world scenarios.
• Examples:
• Memorizing multiplication tables.
• Identifying grammatical errors in isolated
sentences.
• Answering definition-based vocabulary
tests.
 Key Differences
Contextualized Decontextualized
Assessment Assessment
Real-world application Abstract knowledge
Emphasizes problem-
Focuses on recall
solving
Example: writing a Example: vocabulary
research paper quizzes
Analytic Assessment

• Analytic assessment evaluates separate

aspects of a student's performance using
a detailed rubric with multiple criteria. It
provides specific feedback on strengths
and weaknesses.
• Example:
• A writing assignment graded on content,
organization, grammar, and vocabulary, with
separate scores for each.
Holistic Assessment

• Holistic assessment evaluates overall

quality rather than individual
components. The focus is on the general
impression of student work.
• Example:
• A creative writing piece graded based on
overall impact, coherence, and creativity,
with a single score assigned.
 Key Differences
Analytic Assessment Holistic Assessment
Breaks down performance
Assesses overall quality
into criteria
Detailed feedback Single overall score
Example: essay graded on
Example: essay graded as a
grammar, organization,
whole
and content
• ✔ Formative and summative assessments focus on when
and why the assessment is conducted.
✔ Authentic and traditional assessments focus on how
students are tested.
✔ Criterion- and norm-referenced assessments focus on
how performance is measured.
✔ Holistic and analytic assessments focus on how grading
is done.
✔ Contextualized and decontextualized assessments focus
on whether the learning is tied to real-life applications.
 Conclusion
• Understanding these various types of
assessment helps educators select the best
methods for evaluating student learning. Each
type serves a specific purpose, and effective
teachers use a combination of these
assessments to ensure a well-rounded
understanding of student progress.
• By applying both traditional and authentic
assessments, formative and summative
evaluations, and contextualized assessments,
educators can create meaningful and fair
learning experiences.
QUIZ
Instruction
Read each question carefully. Answer each
question in complete sentences. Be sure to
use examples from your own experiences
or knowledge when appropriate. Once you
are done, you may submit the test booklet
and go.
1. Scenario: You are preparing for a college
entrance exam. Which type of assessment
(norm-referenced or criterion-referenced)
does this exam likely represent, and why?

2. Scenario: A teacher uses a rubric to grade

student presentations based on criteria such as
content, delivery, and visual aids. What type of
scoring approach is being used, and how does
it benefit the students?
3. Scenario: During a workshop, participants
complete a hands-on project to create a
marketing plan for a local business. What type of
assessment is this, and how does it reflect real-
world skills?
4.Scenario: A driving instructor evaluates
students based on their ability to perform
specific maneuvers to pass the driving test. Is this
a formative or summative assessment? Explain
your reasoning.
5. Scenario: A student receives feedback on
their essay draft to help improve it before
submitting the final version. What is the
purpose of this feedback, and what type of
assessment does it represent?