Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) Practice Exam 2025 - Free PECT Practice Questions and Study Guide

Formative assessment is designed to gather information on student understanding and learning during the instructional process, allowing educators to make informed decisions about their teaching strategies. One of its primary characteristics is providing immediate feedback to students, which enables them to understand their progress and areas needing improvement.

Additionally, formative assessment focuses on identifying learning gaps, allowing teachers to address those gaps promptly and tailor instruction to meet students' needs. Ongoing monitoring of progress is also a fundamental aspect of formative assessments, as it allows educators to track growth over time and adjust their instructional approaches accordingly.

In contrast, high stakes evaluation refers to assessments that carry significant consequences for students, such as standardized tests or end-of-term exams. These are typically summative assessments that aim to evaluate overall achievement rather than providing insights to guide future learning. Therefore, high stakes evaluation is not typically involved in formative assessment, making it the correct answer in this context.