Formative evaluation during course – UGC NET Question

Option D – formative evaluation Formative evaluation is carried out during the instructional process to provide feedback for improving teaching and learning before final judgments are made. It uses tools such as quizzes, assignments, classroom questions and observations to check ongoing progress. The results are used to adjust teaching strategies, provide remediation or extend learning for those who are ready. Hence, the regular monitoring described in the stem is a hallmark of formative evaluation.

Option A:
Option A, summative evaluation, takes place at the end of a unit or course and is mainly used for grading, promotion or certification. Although it shows how much has been learned overall, it does not primarily serve to adjust ongoing teaching because instruction is already complete. Therefore, it does not match the continuous monitoring described in the question.

Option B:
Option B, diagnostic evaluation, aims mainly at identifying specific learning difficulties and their causes, often before or in the early stages of instruction on a topic. While diagnostic data may be collected through tests, its primary goal is to locate problems rather than to provide continuous feedback throughout a course.

Option C:
Option C, placement evaluation, is used at the outset of a programme to determine the appropriate level or type of instruction a learner should receive. It is not repeated regularly through the course to track progress. Thus, it is not the kind of evaluation referred to in the stem.

Option D:
Option D, formative evaluation, is explicitly concerned with checking learning during teaching through periodic tasks and observations. It supports “assessment for learning,” enabling timely feedback and instructional adjustments. Because the stem emphasizes ongoing quizzes, assignments and observations to monitor progress, formative evaluation is the correct answer.