Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Foundations of Reading Practice Exam

What type of assessment provides teachers with information about students' thinking?

1. Summative Assessment

2. Diagnostic Assessment

3. Formative Assessment

4. Standardized Assessment

The correct answer is: Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is designed to provide ongoing feedback to both teachers and students throughout the learning process. It allows teachers to gain insight into students' understanding, skills, and thought processes as lessons progress. This type of assessment is typically informal and can include observations, class discussions, quizzes, and other activities that reveal how well students are grasping the material. By focusing on students' thinking, formative assessments enable teachers to modify their instruction to better meet individual needs. This approach not only supports learning in real-time but also fosters a growth mindset, as students can learn from their mistakes and successes immediately instead of waiting until a final evaluation at the end of a unit or term. In contrast, summative assessments are intended to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional period, providing a snapshot of what students have learned rather than insight into their ongoing thought processes. Diagnostic assessments aim to identify students' strengths and weaknesses prior to instruction, which is more about categorizing students than understanding their day-to-day thinking. Standardized assessments are designed to measure student performance against a uniform set of criteria, often lacking the depth needed to understand individual students' thinking.