Which assessment type is ongoing and used to monitor student progress?

Formative assessment is characterized by its ongoing nature, allowing educators to continuously monitor student progress throughout the learning process. This type of assessment provides teachers with valuable feedback regarding how well students are grasping the material, enabling them to adjust instruction accordingly to better meet students' needs.

It focuses on the development of skills and knowledge over time, rather than evaluating cumulative learning at the end of an instructional unit, which is the hallmark of summative assessments. Formative assessments can take many forms, such as quizzes, class discussions, peer reviews, or interactive activities, all aimed at guiding further teaching and learning.

In contrast, diagnostic assessments are typically used before instruction begins to identify students' existing knowledge and skill levels, while standardized assessments are pre-defined tests that follow a strict format and are used to evaluate students' performance compared to a standard or average. Summative assessments evaluate students' learning at the end of an instructional period by measuring what students have learned.