FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

During which stage does formative assessment take place?

1. At the end of a unit or course

2. Before the introduction of a new topic

3. During the process of a unit or course

4. At the beginning of the academic year

The correct answer is: During the process of a unit or course

Formative assessment takes place during the process of a unit or course as it is designed to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to enhance their learning. This type of assessment occurs while the instruction is in progress, allowing educators to identify areas where students may be struggling and adjust their teaching strategies accordingly. The essence of formative assessment is to gauge student understanding in real-time, allowing for immediate adjustments to the learning experience. This iterative process helps to ensure that students are grasping the material and provides opportunities for intervention before students are formally evaluated through summative assessments. The key characteristic of formative assessment is its focus on improving learning outcomes, rather than simply measuring achievement at the end of a learning period.