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1.2: Assessment vs. Testing

  • Page ID
    272887
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    A female adult and young girl play on the floor with some toys.

    1 Danelyuk, Pavel (2025). Used under CC-BY.

    While related, assessment and testing serve different functions and have different definitions. Assessment is an ongoing, dynamic process that informs educational decisions, while testing refers to structured, standardized evaluations used to measure specific skills or knowledge at a single point in time (Shepard et al. 2017). DEC emphasizes that assessment should be used to inform instruction and intervention rather than for high-stakes decision-making that may not reflect a child's true abilities (DEC 2014).

    The key differences between the terms “assessment” and “testing” are as follows:

    • Assessment is comprehensive: It gathers data from multiple sources, including direct observation, caregiver interviews, and authentic performance tasks (DEC 2014). A test or tests may be included in an assessment but should not be the only method of collecting information.

    • Assessment is a process: When used to inform instruction, it should occur continuously, rather than being limited to periodic testing events (McAfee et al. 2016). When used to determine eligibility for special education services and support, the comprehensive assessment should include opportunities for collecting and analyzing data, and interdisciplinary collaboration. A test or tests can be a part of the assessment process but should not be the sole component.

    • Testing is often standardized: While standardized tools have their place, they should be used alongside other authentic measures to provide a holistic understanding of a child's development (DEC 2014).


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