What type of assessment would you use to identify specific areas where a student struggles?

Using a diagnostic assessment is particularly effective for identifying specific areas where a student struggles. This type of assessment is designed to provide detailed insights into a student's strengths and weaknesses in particular skill sets or knowledge areas. It helps educators pinpoint learning gaps and understand the underlying reasons for a student's difficulties.

For example, diagnostic assessments might include pre-tests or screening tools that focus on particular content areas, such as reading comprehension or mathematical problem-solving. The information gathered can then guide targeted instruction and interventions tailored to the individual student's needs.

In contrast, summative assessments typically evaluate a student's overall understanding after a learning period, rather than diagnosing specific issues. Formative assessments are ongoing and aim to track student learning and provide feedback during the learning process, but they may not offer the in-depth analysis that diagnostic assessments do. Norm-referenced assessments compare a student's performance to that of a larger group, which is useful for understanding how a student fares in relation to peers, but again, it does not focus on identifying specific areas of struggle. Therefore, the diagnostic assessment is the most appropriate choice for pinpointing the areas where a student may need additional support.