What purpose does diagnostic assessment serve?

Diagnostic assessment serves the purpose of determining student placement by identifying individual students' strengths and weaknesses before instruction begins. This type of assessment provides valuable information that helps teachers understand where a student stands in relation to specific skills or knowledge areas. It allows educators to tailor their teaching strategies and curriculum to meet the diverse needs of their students effectively.

While other forms of assessment, such as summative assessments, are designed to evaluate overall performance or measure long-term growth, diagnostic assessments focus specifically on identifying the starting point for each student's learning journey. By highlighting areas that require more focus or different instructional approaches, diagnostic assessments facilitate a more personalized and effective educational experience.