PECT Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Guide for Pennsylvania Educator Certification

Formative assessment plays a pivotal role in education by providing ongoing feedback throughout the learning process. Its main purpose is to continuously monitor and support student progress, allowing educators to identify areas where students are excelling or struggling in real-time. This type of assessment informs instructional decisions and can be adjusted based on the students' needs, fostering a more personalized and effective learning environment.

By emphasizing continuous monitoring, formative assessments help teachers tailor their instruction and provide timely interventions, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed. This approach contrasts with evaluations at the end of a course, which primarily assess cumulative knowledge rather than ongoing development. Moreover, formative assessments are not exclusively about identifying candidates for standardized testing or focusing solely on special education needs. Instead, they encompass a wide range of assessment strategies applicable to all learners in a classroom setting.