Assessments Are Not Scary

What Is the Purpose of Assessment for Learning? Assessments Are Not Scary!

I always tell my students that assessments are nothing to worry about. They’re just a way for teachers to see how much you’ve learned and to find out if we need to teach something differently. What is the purpose of assessment for learning? It’s not about getting everything right; it’s about doing your best. So, take a deep breath, relax, and remember that these tests are just one part of your learning journey.

Be Smart About Your Time

One of the most important things I remind my students is to watch the clock. You don’t want to spend too much time on any one question.
Instead, budget your time wisely. If a question is too hard, it’s okay to skip it and come back to it later.
Pacing yourself means you’ll have enough time to answer every question without feeling rushed.

Use the Passage to Help You

When it comes to reading passages, I tell my students to always go back to the text when answering questions. The answers are often right there in the passage, so take your time to find them.
Don’t try to guess or make something up—refer back to what you’ve read to help you choose the right answer. This strategy will help you feel more confident in your answers.

Eliminate and Trust Your Gut

For multiple-choice questions, I teach my students to eliminate any answers that are clearly wrong. This narrows down the choices and makes it easier to pick the right one.
After that, trust your gut feeling. Often, your first instinct is correct. Don’t overthink it—go with what feels right after you’ve ruled out the wrong options.

Keep Moving Forward

Finally, I encourage my students not to get stuck on any one question. If something is taking too long, move on to the next question and come back to it if you have time.
This way, you won’t waste valuable minutes on something tricky and miss out on answering questions you know how to solve.
Remember, it’s about doing your best across the whole test, not just one question.
These simple strategies can make a big difference, and I’m here to help every step of the way!

Final Thoughts

Assessments are a tool to guide learning, not a reason to stress. What is the purpose of assessment for learning? It’s to support growth, highlight strengths, and identify where help is needed. With the right mindset and strategies, every student can face assessments with confidence and success.