Which type of assessment directly reflects the progress a student is making toward an educational goal?

Formative assessment is designed to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to improve their learning. This type of assessment occurs during the instructional process, allowing educators to adjust their teaching methods based on the students' understanding and progress. It helps in identifying students’ strengths and weaknesses, thus reflecting their progress towards specific educational goals. Examples include quizzes, class discussions, or informal assessments that provide immediate feedback and can guide future learning activities.

In comparison, diagnostic assessments are typically administered before instruction to evaluate students' existing knowledge about a specific topic. Summative assessments occur at the end of an instructional period to assess the student's overall understanding and achievement in a comprehensive manner. Peer assessment involves students assessing each other’s work, which can provide valuable insights but is not primarily designed to measure a student's progress toward educational goals in the same way that formative assessments do.