FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What is used to determine if students require specialized assistance or are ready to advance academically?

1. Placement assessments

2. Screening assessments

3. Standardized assessments

4. Summative assessments

The correct answer is: Screening assessments

Screening assessments are designed to identify students' strengths and weaknesses in specific academic areas, helping educators determine whether students need specialized assistance or intervention. These assessments are typically administered at the beginning of an academic year or when a student enters a new program, serving as an early identification process. By evaluating essential skills and knowledge, screening assessments can effectively measure if students are at risk of falling behind or if they are adequately prepared to progress to the next level of instruction. This proactive approach allows for timely support and interventions that can help enhance student outcomes. Placement assessments, on the other hand, are specifically designed to determine the appropriate level of instruction for a student, but they may not comprehensively assess the need for specialized assistance. Standardized assessments focus on measuring student performance against a uniform standard, but they do not necessarily target the identification of those in need of additional support. Summative assessments evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit, primarily used to measure what students have learned rather than to identify current needs. Thus, the primary purpose of screening assessments aligns perfectly with determining the academic readiness and specialized needs of students.