How can formative assessment be described?

Formative assessment is best characterized as ongoing assessment to monitor student progress. This type of assessment is integrated into the learning process, allowing educators to gather feedback on students' understanding and performance throughout the instructional period. The purpose is to identify areas where students might be struggling and to adjust teaching methods and support based on that information.

By continuously assessing, teachers can provide timely feedback, adapt their teaching strategies in response to students' needs, and promote a more personalized learning experience. Formative assessments can take many forms, such as quizzes, discussions, observations, and projects, and they emphasize the process of learning rather than just the final outcome.

In contrast, the other options describe assessment methods that are not considered formative. A single test administered at the end of the year represents a summative assessment, which evaluates student learning after a unit or course has been completed. A structured assessment conducted once a semester typically occurs at specific intervals and does not provide the continuous feedback that formative assessments do. A comprehensive evaluation of all skills suggests a more holistic, end-of-term assessment, which also aligns more closely with summative assessment practices. Therefore, the characteristic of ongoing monitoring inherent in formative assessment is what makes it distinct and vital in the educational process.