What is the purpose of formative assessment in education?

Formative assessment plays a crucial role in the educational process by monitoring student learning and providing ongoing feedback. This type of assessment is typically conducted during the learning process, rather than at the end of an instructional period. It allows educators to gauge how well students understand the material, identify areas where they may be struggling, and adjust instructional strategies to better meet their needs.

By incorporating formative assessments, teachers can create a responsive learning environment where instruction is tailored to support individual student growth. This ongoing feedback can take many forms, including quizzes, discussions, observations, and informal checks for understanding, which all serve to inform both the teacher's next steps and the students' academic progress.

The other options describe different purposes that do not align with the primary goal of formative assessment. For instance, grading for end-of-term performance focuses on summative evaluation, while comparisons against benchmarks and evaluations of teacher effectiveness do not provide the immediate data needed to influence day-to-day teaching and learning.