Which assessment type is often used to evaluate a student’s progress over time?

A formative assessment is designed to evaluate a student's progress and understanding over a period of time, typically throughout a particular course or instructional unit. This type of assessment is ongoing and provides feedback that can help both instructors and students identify areas where improvement is needed. The primary purpose of formative assessments is to facilitate learning rather than to assign a final grade. Examples of formative assessments include quizzes, discussions, and peer reviews, as they encourage students to reflect on their learning and instructors to adjust their teaching strategies accordingly.

In contrast, summative assessments evaluate what students have learned at the end of an instructional period and typically result in a grade that reflects the students' overall performance. Norm-referenced assessments compare students’ performance against a national average or group, while performance assessments focus on the application of skills and knowledge in real-world scenarios. Each of these other types of assessment serves different purposes, but formative assessments are specifically aimed at tracking progress during the learning process.