What type of assessment is typically used for standardized testing?

Standardized testing is typically associated with summative assessment, which is designed to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against either a standard or a benchmark. This type of assessment is often used to determine whether educational goals and standards have been met, providing a snapshot of student performance.

Summative assessments, like standardized tests, provide valuable data on overall program effectiveness and can influence educational decisions at various levels, including policy formation and curriculum development. They often assess knowledge and skills on a broader level and may impact student placement or graduation.

Formative assessments, on the other hand, are used throughout the learning process to monitor student progress and provide ongoing feedback. Diagnostic assessments seek to identify students' strengths and weaknesses prior to instruction, while criterion-referenced assessments measure student performance against a set standard rather than against other students, although standardized tests may also be criterion-referenced. However, the primary context in which standardized tests are applied aligns predominantly with summative assessment.