Which of the following is a formative assessment technique?

• A. Final exam
• B. Summative project
• C. Quick checks
• D. Standardized tests

Answer: (C)

Formative assessment is ongoing feedback during a lesson that helps both teacher and student adjust instruction and learning while it’s happening. Quick checks fit this idea perfectly because they are brief, informal checks of understanding done during or right after a lesson—things like an exit ticket, a quick poll, a thumbs-up/thumbs-down, or a brief oral check. They provide immediate information about what students grasp or struggle with, so the teacher can adapt next steps and the student can address gaps before moving on. These checks are usually low-stakes and not used to assign final grades, focusing instead on guiding learning in real time. In contrast, a final exam and a summative project measure learning after instruction is complete, serving as end-of-unit or end-of-course assessments. Standardized tests are large-scale, uniform assessments used for accountability and comparison rather than day-to-day instructional adjustment.