Which statement best describes the role of formative assessment in instruction?

• A. It replaces summative assessment.
• B. It provides information during learning to adjust instruction.
• C. It only measures memorized facts.
• D. It is used solely to label students as advanced or not.

Answer: (B)

Formative assessment is information gathered during instruction to adjust teaching and support student learning. It helps you see what students understand or where they’re stuck while the lesson is still happening, so you can adapt pacing, provide quick targeted feedback, or modify activities to reteach or extend as needed. This ongoing feedback loop keeps learning responsive and improves outcomes before any final grade. It isn’t meant to replace summative assessment, which happens at the end to evaluate what was learned; it isn’t limited to measuring memorized facts, since it can involve reasoning, applying concepts, and demonstrating skills; and it isn’t used just to label students as advanced or not—its purpose is to guide instruction and support growth. Examples include quick exit tickets, think-pair-share checks, or low-stakes polls that reveal understanding in real time.