What is the Purpose of Assessment?

Assessments are key to identifying the progress of learners and ensuring they are either on their way to reaching or have reached the standard required to complete a course. Assessments are not conducted solely to test a learner; they should be constructed in a way that will help the learner progress.

In this article, we discuss assessments in greater detail. We’ll explain the benefits of assessments and the different types of assessments that should be conducted to aid a learner through their course.

What is the purpose of assessments?

There are many reasons to carry out assessments throughout a course. Assessments should not just be conducted at the end of a course, but should be used as a tool to track a learner’s progress and support them accordingly.

Assessments assist learners by:

• Providing feedback that will help them improve
• Helping direct themselves towards their learning goals
• Motivating them to keep making progress
• Gathering relevant information about them to support them in ways specific to the learner
• Detecting learning issues such as reading problems, speech difficulties or problems with hand-eye coordination
• Helping them identify their strengths and weaknesses

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What are the different types of assessments?

There are various different types of assessments that should be conducted at different stages throughout the course.

Initial assessments

To be taken at the beginning of a course, an initial assessment can determine any special requirements of the learner. It might be used to test a learner’s reading ability to ensure they have the comprehension skills required to complete the course or to identify disabilities such as dyslexia so that they can be given additional support. There are many cases in which a learner is unaware of a cognitive disability, and an initial assessment can be useful to ensure that everyone has the support they need to complete the course.

Diagnostic assessments

These can be conducted at intervals between sessions or modules to diagnose any gaps in learning. They are beneficial for recapping content and identifying progress. There are various ways to carry out diagnostic assessments, such as interviews, learners’ feedback or performance tasks.

Holistic assessments

Holistic learning is the philosophy of educating a learner beyond core academics. It takes an alternative approach to traditional teaching methods by seeking to develop a learner’s physical, emotional, moral, psychological and spiritual attributes. 

Find out more about holistic learning here.

Formative assessments

These are ongoing, informal assessments to quickly determine the level a learner is currently at. This could be as simple as asking questions throughout the day. 

Summative assessments

The summative assessment is the formal assessment at the end of a training course that measures achievement as opposed to progress. This is the main assessment used to measure whether a learner has reached the criteria required to obtain a certificate. There might be a summative assessment at the end of the course or at the end of each module, depending on the course.

Assessing is a vital part of any training course. You can become a certified assessor by taking an assessor course with CTC Training. Assessment training is just one of the many online training courses we offer. Enrol today and gain access to our 24/7 student portal, where you can view course content and upload assessments at your leisure. No matter your schedule, you can earn qualifications that enhance your career.

Enrol today or contact our team for more information.