Which of the following best describes formative assessment?

Formative assessment is best described as an ongoing assessment to monitor student understanding because it is designed to provide educators with real-time feedback about students’ learning progress throughout the instructional process. This type of assessment allows instructors to gauge how well students are grasping the material and to identify areas where they may need additional support or instruction. By engaging in formative assessments—such as quizzes, discussions, or observations—teachers can adjust their teaching strategies accordingly and help students to improve continuously.

This approach contrasts sharply with final assessments, which evaluate learning outcomes at the end of a course or unit, and standardized tests that are primarily used for comparing performance across a larger group rather than to support individual learning. Additionally, formative assessments are not focused on promoting competition among students, as they aim to create a supportive learning environment that fosters growth and improvement for all students.