Which type of assessment is primarily used to document ongoing progress during learning?

The correct answer is formative assessment. This type of assessment is designed to provide feedback during the learning process rather than at the end. It helps educators and learners identify strengths and areas for improvement, facilitating adjustments in teaching and learning strategies as needed. Formative assessments are typically conducted throughout a course or unit to track student understanding and progress over time, allowing for immediate instruction adjustments to enhance student outcomes.

In contrast, summative assessments evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional period, measuring the extent of understanding after a particular teaching cycle. Criterion-referenced assessments compare a student's performance to a defined set of standards or criteria, which may be used for accountability but not specifically for ongoing progress tracking. Informal assessments, while they can provide insights into student learning, are often not designed or structured in the same way as formative assessments, which are specifically aimed at monitoring progress continuously.