National Counselor Exam (NCE)

What type of assessment method is recommended for reflecting student progress over time?

1. Formative assessments

2. Summative assessments

3. Standardized tests

4. Diagnostic tests

The correct answer is: Formative assessments

Formative assessments are designed to track and enhance student progress throughout the learning process. These assessments occur continuously during instruction and provide ongoing feedback to both students and educators. They help identify areas where students may be struggling, allowing for timely adjustments in teaching methods and learning strategies. This type of assessment encourages active learning and fosters a growth mindset, as students receive immediate insights into their performance and understand what is needed for improvement. In contrast, summative assessments evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against some standard or benchmark, which does not effectively reflect progress over time. Standardized tests are used to measure student achievement against a uniform set of criteria, but they may not reflect individual growth or improvement as they are often a one-time assessment. Diagnostic tests are intended to identify specific strengths and weaknesses prior to instruction, but they do not provide ongoing insights into a student's progress as they continue to learn. Thus, formative assessments are the optimal choice for reflecting student progress over time.