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5 Types of School Assessments & Their Key Purposes - Coggle Diagram
5 Types of School Assessments & Their Key Purposes
Summative Assessment
Examples
Class-level assessments: End-of-term tests, final exams
Coursework assessments: HSC exams (partially summative).
Standardized tests: NAPLAN Online, VALID Science Exam (NSW)
Purposes
Evaluates overall performance and learning outcomes
Identifies gaps in a program and areas for future improvement
Conducted after learning to measure student achievement
Diagnostic Assessment
Purpose
Can be used at an individual or program level
Helps develop targeted intervention strategies
Identifies learning gaps, weaknesses, or misconceptions
Examples
Early literacy/numeracy screening: Identifies students needing extra support
Pre-tests before new topics: Determines prior knowledge.
COVID-related learning assessments: NSW Best Start Year 7
Key Takeaways
Different assessments serve different goals: (e.g., detailed feedback vs. broad comparisons)
Scenario-based assessments (like PISA) provide real-world application contexts
Assessment types often overlap: (e.g., HSC coursework is both summative & formative)
A balanced mix of assessments provides a complete picture of student learning
Continual Assessment
Purposes
Can be formal or informal, depending on the context.
Helps teachers adjust lessons as students learn
Ongoing assessment that tracks learning progress in real time
Examples
Student portfolios (ongoing work samples)
Frequent low-stakes tests (mini-exams, project-based tasks)
Daily teacher observations (monitoring student engagement)
Benchmarking Assessment
Purposes
Helps identify trends in learning over time
Can be used to compare individual, class, or school performance
Measures student performance against a standard (national/international)
Example
International comparisons: PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment)
School performance tracking: Comparing student cohorts across years
Voluntary benchmarking tests: Reach Assessments
Formative Assessment
Purposes
Helps teachers adapt teaching methods based on real-time feedback
Encourages student self-awareness and learning adjustments.
Conducted during learning to track student progress
Examples
Quizzes & self-assessments: Quick checks for understanding
Diagnostic tools: ACARA’s Spindle Project (tracking literacy & numeracy)
Informal strategies: Classroom discussions, teacher observations