Question 1

Pupils in England and in Northern Ireland are subjected to more testing than their peers in other parts of the UK

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

What types of evidence do you use for formative assessment?

Accepted Answer

Formative assessment is a range of formal and informal assessment procedures employed by educators during the learning process in order to modify teaching and learning activities to improve student attainment. It typically involves qualitative feedback (rather than scores) for both student and teacher that focuses on the details of content and performance. Here are several types of evidence that can be used for formative assessment:

1. Observations: Teachers can gather evidence through observing students during classroom activities, noting how they approach tasks, interact with peers, and apply new knowledge and skills.

2. Questioning: Strategic questioning can provide immediate evidence of students' understanding, misconceptions, and learning needs. This can be done orally, through show of hands, or with digital tools that allow for quick responses.

3. Discussions: Group or class discussions allow teachers to hear how students articulate their understanding and can provide insights into their depth of knowledge and critical thinking skills.

4. Exit Tickets: These are short prompts that students respond to at the end of a lesson, providing a snapshot of their understanding of the day's material.

5. Quizzes: Short, informal quizzes can help gauge where students are in their learning process and identify areas that need further clarification or instruction.

6. Student Reflections: Encouraging students to reflect on their learning and the strategies they used can provide evidence of their metacognitive skills and self-awareness.

7. Peer Assessment: Students can assess each other's work, providing feedback that can help their peers and themselves reflect on their learning.

8. Self-Assessment: Students can evaluate their own work against a set of criteria or a rubric, which helps them to take ownership of their learning and understand their progress.

9. Learning Logs or Journals: These written records allow students to regularly reflect on their learning experiences, challenges, and progress over time.

10. Portfolios: A collection of student work over time can provide a comprehensive view of their learning progress, strengths, and areas for improvement.

11. Performance Tasks: These are real-world challenges that require students to apply their knowledge and skills in a context that mirrors what they will face outside of school.

12. Artifacts of Learning: This can include drafts of work, lists of vocabulary words they have mastered, or other tangible evidence of their learning process.

13. Student Conferences: One-on-one meetings between the teacher and student can provide deep insights into the student's understanding and learning needs.

14. Digital Tools: Various educational technologies offer immediate feedback through interactive activities, games, and assessments.

Using a combination of these types of evidence allows educators to get a more complete picture of student learning and provides multiple avenues for students to demonstrate their understanding and progress. Formative assessment is most effective when it is ongoing, consistent, and embedded into the daily classroom activities.

Question 3

The time statutory testing takes is an intrusion into schools' practice

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Internal moderation . . .

Accepted Answer

A)   checks whether teachers are right/wrong
B)   involves discussion about a small sample of children's work
C)   justifies a given grade
D)   is not that important

Question 5

National testing is an unhelpful, arduous intrusion

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following are statutory assessment requirements in England?

Accepted Answer

A)   Early Years Foundation Stage Profile
B)   Phonics screening check at the end of Year 1.
C)   Key Stage 1 (KS1)  tasks and tests during Year 2
D)   Key Stage 2 English grammar, punctuation and spelling test
E)   Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests in English and mathematics

Question 7

What types of evidence do you use for summative assessment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What types of evidence do you use...

Question 8

The phonics test in England is . . .

Accepted Answer

A)   a light-touch assessment
B)   an in-depth analysis of children's phonics ability
C)   a reporting tool for league tables
D)   causing children a great deal of stress

Question 9

Why do you think England has a strong emphasis on external testing and accountability?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why do you think England has a...

Question 10

There are a limited number of formative assessment strategies available for teachers to use

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Level descriptions have been used . . .

Accepted Answer

A)   only in England
B)   only in Wales
C)   only in Scotland
D)   only in Northern Ireland
E)   in all parts of the UK

Question 12

How can 'high-stakes testing' impact on education?

Accepted Answer

A)   Teachers teach to the test only
B)   Teachers can adopt transmission styles of teaching
C)   Children become very anxious about tests
D)   Head teachers focus only on the tests and not other aspects of the school curriculum

Question 13

What are the main purposes of summative assessment?

Accepted Answer

A)   For a summary of children's progress
B)   To share with parents a child's achievements
C)   To inform next steps in a child's progress
D)   To produce a numerical summary for league tables

Question 14

Which are the two main types of assessment seen in schools?

Accepted Answer

A)   Summative assessment
B)   Diagnostic assessment
C)   Formative assessment
D)   Self-assessment

Question 15

What are the main sources of assessment evidence in primary schools?

Accepted Answer

A)   What learners' parents say they can do
B)   What learners say
C)   What learners do
D)   What learners produce

Question 16

How many principles of Assessment for Learning are there?

Accepted Answer

A)   1
B)   5
C)   8
D)   10

Question 17

Reflect on the different formative assessment strategies you use in class. Compare your strategies to those discussed in Section 5.1. What can you learn from this comparison?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Reflect on the different formative assessment strategies...

Question 18

Analyse the questions you planned for in a recent lesson plan. Use the discussions about questioning in Section 5.1 to support your analysis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Analyse the questions you planned for in...

Question 19

Formative assessment is the only type of assessment teachers need to use

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Assessment for Learning . . .

Accepted Answer

A)   . . . is an integral part of teaching and learning
B)   . . . is just the same as assessment of learning
C)   . . . is a way to improve children's progress
D)   . . . involves feedback to children
E)   . . . requires children to be active in their own learning

Exam 5: Assessment for Learning: Formative Approaches

Pupils in England and in Northern Ireland are subjected to more testing than their peers in other parts of the UK

What types of evidence do you use for formative assessment?

The time statutory testing takes is an intrusion into schools' practice

Internal moderation . . .

National testing is an unhelpful, arduous intrusion

Which of the following are statutory assessment requirements in England?

What types of evidence do you use for summative assessment?

The phonics test in England is . . .

Why do you think England has a strong emphasis on external testing and accountability?

There are a limited number of formative assessment strategies available for teachers to use

Level descriptions have been used . . .

How can 'high-stakes testing' impact on education?

What are the main purposes of summative assessment?

Which are the two main types of assessment seen in schools?

What are the main sources of assessment evidence in primary schools?

How many principles of Assessment for Learning are there?

Reflect on the different formative assessment strategies you use in class. Compare your strategies to those discussed in Section 5.1. What can you learn from this comparison?

Analyse the questions you planned for in a recent lesson plan. Use the discussions about questioning in Section 5.1 to support your analysis.

Formative assessment is the only type of assessment teachers need to use

Assessment for Learning . . .