Teachers use benchmark assessments to track students' progress toward mastering skills and knowledge. Teachers can use this information to adjust their teaching to meet each child's needs. Parents can use this information to see the progress their child is making during the year. Benchmark assessments are given periodically and are typically given in the classroom as part of instruction.

Examples of benchmark assessments:

• Smarter Balance Benchmark Assessment

Diagnostic assessments are given before instruction. Teachers use diagnostic tests to see what students need to work on, what they have already mastered, and what curriculum or teaching strategies might work best for a student.

Examples of diagnostic assessments:

• DRA

Formative Assessments monitor student learning and provide continual feedback to students about strengths and areas of growth.  Teachers use these assessments to reflect on the effectiveness of their lessons. 

Examples of formative assessments:
 

• CBMs (Curriculum-Based Measures)
• Quiz
• Student self-assessment

Summative Assessments evaluate student learning, skill acquisition and achievement at the end of a unit.  These assessments are used by teachers, administrators and schools to gauge student's mastery of a given topic or skill.
 

• Smarter Balanced Summative assessment
• End-of-unit exam