Testing used during instruction to aid in planning and diagnosis is known as:

Question

Accepted Answer

Formative Assessment is the correct answer for the question regarding testing used during instruction to aid in planning and diagnosis. Here's why:

1. **Explanation for Option 1 (Formative Assessment):**
   Formative Assessment refers to a variety of methods that educators use to conduct in-process evaluations of student comprehension, learning needs, and academic progress during a lesson, unit, or course. The primary purpose of formative assessment is to gather feedback that can be used by the instructor to improve their teaching and by students to improve their learning. This type of assessment is diagnostic in nature and helps in planning future instruction based on the students' current understanding and needs. It is an integral part of the instructional process and is used to make real-time adjustments to teaching strategies and learning activities.

2. **Explanation for Option 2 (Summative Assessment):**
   Summative Assessment is used to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against some standard or benchmark. Examples include final exams, end-of-term projects, or standardized tests. Unlike formative assessments, summative assessments are not typically used to aid in planning or diagnosis during instruction. Instead, they are used to measure the outcomes of the instructional process.

3. **Explanation for Option 3 (Normative Assessment):**
   Normative Assessment refers to assessments that compare a student's performance against a group, often a national or other large-scale sample. These assessments are designed to rank students and are not typically used for planning or diagnostic purposes during instruction. They are more focused on establishing norms and benchmarks rather than providing feedback for instructional improvement.

4. **Explanation for Option 4 (None of these):**
   Since Formative Assessment accurately describes the type of testing used during instruction to aid in planning and diagnosis, Option 4 is incorrect. The question specifically asks for the type of assessment used during instruction, which is clearly addressed by formative assessments.

In conclusion, Formative Assessment is the correct choice because it is specifically designed to provide ongoing feedback that can be used to improve both teaching and student learning during the instructional process.