What is a key feature of formative assessments?

Formative assessments are designed to support learning through ongoing evaluation and feedback during the instructional process. This approach allows educators to gather information about students' understanding and mastery of content in real time. By utilizing formative assessments, teachers can identify areas where students are struggling and adjust their instruction accordingly to enhance learning outcomes.

The key feature of providing real-time feedback is crucial, as it gives students the opportunity to reflect on their performance, make necessary adjustments, and improve before they are evaluated through more summative means, such as tests at the end of a course or unit. This continual feedback loop fosters an environment conducive to growth and learning, emphasizing mastery rather than merely assigning grades or scores.

In contrast, high-stakes testing methods focus on significant consequences for performance, typically occurring after a learning period, and do not align with the purpose of formative assessments. Therefore, the feature that these assessments offer real-time feedback and facilitate instructional guidance is essential for effective teaching and learning strategies.