Formative assessment is primarily used for what purpose?

Formative assessment is primarily used to gauge understanding during a lesson or unit. This type of assessment serves as a tool for both teachers and students to identify learning progress and areas needing improvement in real-time. It helps educators adjust their teaching strategies and interventions based on immediate feedback, allowing them to tailor instruction to meet students’ needs effectively. By focusing on the learning process rather than the final outcome, formative assessments create a feedback loop that fosters ongoing improvement and mastery of the curriculum, making it an essential component of effective teaching and learning practices.