Assessment

Classroom assessment is an integral part of the teaching-learning process, where the teaching goals, instruction, and assessment procedures are planned in advance and integrated into a whole. Teachers and pupils should be involved in monitoring the learning process as well as evaluating outcomes. Effective classroom assessment involves various assessment methods and evidence of learning over a period of time.
Two kinds of classroom assessment:

•  Formative Assessment: Monitors pupils’ progress by providing meaningful feedback on their performance, enabling them to advance their learning in line with curriculum standards. The information obtained from formative assessment is also used for planning further instruction, and serves as the basis for an ongoing teacher-pupil dialogue on the pupil’s progress.

• Summative Assessment: Provides information on the quality of pupils’ performance, and assesses the pupils’ achievement of goals as defined by the curriculum.

Both types of assessment are implemented through various methods. Since every assessment tool has its strengths and weaknesses, none should be used exclusively, but rather as one of several components in the assessment process.

From "Assessment Guidelines"; National Curriculum 2001, Ministry of Education, English Inspectorate