Formative assessment: a critical review
We checked this card's citation and the finding we state against the source's own page or record in October 2026.
What it found
The term formative assessment covers so many different practices that results should be expected to vary widely. The big numbers commonly quoted for its effect trace back to sources that are flawed, dated, unpublished or can't be traced. Teachers need substantial time and support to do it well, and it works best built into a specific subject.
What kind of study it is
- Design
- Review
- Weight
- Adds context: a review or a weaker design, which doesn't move a card's rating on its own.
Read it
doi.org/10.1080/0969594X.2010.513678 · ERIC record EJ912798
We link to the source and summarize it in our own words. We don't host or copy papers.
Cited in the Library
Cite this study
Bennett, R. E. (2011). Formative assessment: A critical review. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 18(1), 5–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/0969594X.2010.513678
Checked against the source in October 2026. All studies · How we rate the evidence · Something wrong? Tell us.