Formative assessments are primarily used to:

• A. Rank students against each other
• B. Guide instruction and provide feedback
• C. Assign letter grades
• D. Determine school funding

Answer: (B)

Formative assessments are used to gauge understanding while learning is happening, so instruction can be adjusted on the fly. They give timely feedback to students and teachers, showing what’s understood and what needs more practice or reteaching. This ongoing feedback loop helps tailor lessons, address misconceptions, and plan the next steps, rather than simply evaluating students after the fact. Quick checks for understanding, exit tickets, and draft work are common examples that reveal where guidance or new practice is needed. By contrast, ranking students, assigning final grades, or determining funding are all concerns that come after learning and aren’t the primary purpose of formative assessments.