Which type of assessment provides measures of progress that are supported by data and statistically accurate?

• A. Formal Assessment
• B. Criterion-referenced test
• C. Formative Assessment
• D. Performance

Answer: (A)

Measuring progress with dependable, data-based evidence comes from formal assessments. These are standardized tests given in consistent conditions, with scoring procedures and established reliability and validity. That combination yields scores that can be analyzed statistically, providing measurable progress data across students and over time. Formative checks, by contrast, are quick, instructional tools designed to guide teaching rather than produce broad, statistically precise results. Criterion-referenced and performance assessments focus on meeting standards or demonstrating skills, but they don’t inherently deliver the same level of statistical precision as formal assessments.