Principles of assessment

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Principles of assessment

HomeSchool resourcesPrinciples of assessment

Topic summary

The key principles underlying a system that learns in order to provide the best possible learning opportunities and outcomes for students.

Assessment describes a broad range of practices from informal evaluations of student learning and progress to formal summative examinations for the attainment of recognised qualifications such as NCEA. Assessment can be both formative, which means that it is used to inform ongoing teaching and learning, and summative, which is used to provide a measure of learning and progress. However, this is not a fixed distinction, as summative measures can also be used to inform the focus and direction of future teaching and learning. Sound educational assessment is characterised by validity, reliability and fairness in all assessment practices.

Assessment is crucial to learning and is an integral part of the learning process. It also serves as a tool for summative measures that may be used for reporting and certification purposes. Effective assessment practices are fundamental to an education system that learns.

Advances in educational assessment globally continue to influence thinking about assessment for and of meaningful outcomes for today’s students, as do considerations of how technology can be used for assessment to inform teaching and learning. There is a growing body of convincing evidence regarding the impact of effective formative assessment, although some aspects of assessment, such as self and peer assessment, remain under-researched.

Effective assessment practices:

  • Assess what is valued, not simply what can be measured 
  • Enable students to be active participants in assessment 
  • Develop the assessment capability of all stakeholders
  • Gather and employ a broad range of assessment information
  • Pay attention to and promote learner wellbeing
  • Consider the potential consequences of assessment

  • How do we think about assessment practices as being part of and contributing to a learning system?
  • How do we ensure that our assessment practices are valid, reliable and fair?
  • Do we assess the knowledge, skills and competencies that are valued in our school?
  • How do we work to develop the assessment capability of students, teachers and leaders?
  • Do our assessment practices take place in a trusting environment in which the mana and wellbeing of students, teachers and leaders are protected and enhanced?

Research reviews

Principles of assessment

An introduction to the principles of assessment that underlie a ‘system that learns’, encompassing early childhood education, primary school and secondary school.

Pillars of sound educational assessment

An overview of the principles of validity, reliability and fairness that should underpin all educational assessment.

Webinars

Using assessment for learning to support literacy learning

LIVE EVENT: COMING UP: 7.30PM WEDNESDAY JULY 30, 2025
Deputy Principal of Pukekohe Hill School Rochelle Keown will share insights into her school’s journey to raising learner achievement

Using Comparative Judgement to improve writing

Daisy Christodoulou discusses how comparative judgement can help schools improve students’ writing.

Using assessment to create an education system that learns

Renowned assessment expert Michael Absolum (ONZM) explores the central role assessment should play in driving learning throughout the education system and how schools and teachers can adopt these ideas into their practice

Improving writing instruction across primary and secondary school

Teacher Jeanette Breen discusses what is most important for students to learn in their writing journey from Primary to Secondary

In consideration of educational tests: evil, necessary, or beneficial?

Professor Gavin Brown (University of Auckland) takes a balanced perspective that suggests despite unwelcome side effects, schools and teachers need tests to know what students can or cannot do

Harnessing and enhancing assessment in schools

Professor Stuart Kime discusses the role of assessment in teaching and learning with a particular focus on practical strategies for how teachers can enhance their assessment practice and embed effective assessment into their day-to-day teaching.

Infographics

Principles of assessment infographic

High-quality assessment and how it supports learning

Snapshots

The role of assessment in an education system that learns

Key insights from a webinar with Michael Absolum.

Harnessing and enhancing assessment in schools: key ideas from Professor Stuart Kime’s webinar

Key ideas on effective assessment practice in schools from Stuart Kime's webinar
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