What is a common feature of formative assessments?

Formative assessments are 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. The key characteristic of formative assessments is their emphasis on feedback rather than on assigning grades. They are typically conducted during the learning process, allowing both teachers and students to identify strengths and weaknesses and make necessary adjustments to enhance understanding and performance. This iterative process supports a growth mindset, helping students develop skills and knowledge progressively.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of formative assessments. Using assessments primarily for final grading is more characteristic of summative assessments, which evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional period. Standardization is not a feature associated with formative assessments since they are often tailored to specific teaching and learning contexts rather than adhering to a uniform metric. Lastly, limiting assessments to occur only at the end of a unit is contradictory to the nature of formative assessments, which are intended to be ongoing throughout the learning experience.