Formal Assessment vs. Informal Assessment
Difference Between Formal Assessment and Informal Assessment
Formal Assessment vs. Informal Assessment
Students are compared according to a set of rules and criteria set in a formal assessment while there are not particular rules to judge a student in an informal assessment.
Formal Assessment vs. Informal Assessment
There are set of rules applied by the university or the institute which apply to everyone in a formal assessment while the rules applied in an informal assessment are by the teacher and can differ from student to student.
Formal Assessment vs. Informal Assessment
People are compared on an individual level in a formal assessment while they can be judged on individual or group basis depending on the type of activity.
Formal Assessment vs. Informal Assessment
There is no score comparison done in an informal assessment while scores are compared from student to student in a formal assessment.
Formal Assessment vs. Informal Assessment
There can be anxiety factor involved during a formal assessment while there is no such tension involved in an informal assessment.
Formal Assessment vs. Informal Assessment
The form of formal assessment can be short questions or multiple choice questions while the mode of assessment in an informal process is trough samples, reports or experiments.
Comparison Chart
| Formal Assessment | Informal Assessment |
| Conducted when there is a proper criterion set by the teacher or the institute in order to judge the caliber of a student based on particular instructions and questions given in the assessment. | Type in which there are no requirements of particular grading under the guidelines of the institute. |
| Function | |
| Students are compared according to a set of rules and criteria | There are no particular rules to judge a student in an informal assessment. |
| Comparison | |
| People are compared on an individual level. | Can be judged on individual or group basis depending on the type of activity. |
| Anxiety | |
| There can be anxiety factor involved. | No such tension involved. |
Definition of Formal Assessment
This is the type of assessment which is conducted when there is a proper criterion set by the teacher or the institute in order to judge the caliber of a student based on particular instructions and questions given in the assessment. In this, a person is checked according to a wider set of rules and with other students on an equal level. This can be in the form of exams of tests which are conducted on a regular basis under the regulations of the university or institute. The mode of tests, in this case, is through multiple choice questions or short questions while the scores which are obtained from the student are compared and a result is obtained where people are ranked according to the marks they get. Every person is tested on their level and there is no group activity involved to make sure everyone gets a fair assessment. This is a standard practice where scores are important and in the end contribute towards getting grades enough to enter the practical life for working.
Definition of Informal Assessment
An informal assessment is a type in which there are no requirements of particular grading under the guidelines of the institute. For example, there are many activities that student do in the class and also appear in tests and other groups undertakings which are marked by the teacher but they are not always counted towards the final grade of the student and even if it, there is particular percentage which is added on basis of several activities throughout the academic year. Teachers are responsible for conducting these activities which can be reports, case studies, and even experiments which help in giving students valuable experience and learning without the factor of anxiety and they can perform better under circumstances when they do not have the pressure of getting marks to secure a position. This practice is gaining more and more popularity over the world.
ConclusionIn a nutshell, this article details the main difference between the two terms of Formal Assessment and Informal Assessment. There are many terms relating to these and therefore can become utmost important. It will help individuals in developing a clear understanding of the topics and get first-hand knowledge about the definition and the scope of it.
