Informal Assessment

Unit Purpose

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This learning unit develops teachers’ awareness of informal assessment and their ability to recognise assessment moments that occur naturally during teaching and learning.

The focus is not on designing assessments, but on identifying when assessment is taking place, understanding its purpose, and recognising how informal assessment supports learning.

Recognising informal assessment is a core professional skill for interpreting learning progress and teaching effectiveness.

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1. What Is Informal Assessment?

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Informal assessment refers to ongoing, non-formal ways teachers gather information about student learning during lessons.

Unlike tests or exams, informal assessment:

• Happens continuously

• Is often unplanned or embedded in teaching

• Focuses on understanding learning in progress

Informal assessment helps teachers notice what students understand, misunderstand, or are still developing.

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2. Why Does Informal Assessment Matter?

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Awareness of informal assessment helps teachers to:

• Monitor learning while it is happening

• Identify misconceptions early

• Understand student progress beyond test results

• Judge whether teaching is supporting learning

Without this awareness, teachers may:

• Rely too heavily on formal tests

• Miss learning difficulties until it is too late

• Separate teaching from assessment

Informal assessment connects teaching, learning, and assessment in real time.

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3. Common Forms of Informal Assessment

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At the awareness level, teachers should recognise that informal assessment may include:

• Asking questions during lessons

• Observing student responses or behaviour

• Listening to student explanations

• Checking student work while circulating

• Noticing patterns of errors or confusion

These actions are not “extra tasks” but part of everyday teaching.

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4. What Does Informal Assessment Look Like in the Classroom?

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Informal assessment may be observed when teachers:

• Adjust explanations based on student responses

• Ask follow-up questions to probe understanding

• Pause instruction when confusion is noticed

• Use student answers to guide the next activity

These moments indicate that assessment is being used to understand learning, not just measure it.

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5. Informal Assessment vs. Formal Assessment

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A key awareness-level distinction is between informal and formal assessment.

• Formal assessment: tests, exams, graded tasks

• Informal assessment: observation, questioning, discussion

Both are important, but they serve different purposes.

Informal assessment focuses on learning in progress, not final outcomes.

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6. Common Misunderstandings About Informal Assessment

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Misunderstanding 1:

“Assessment only happens during tests.”
Assessment also happens continuously during teaching.

Misunderstanding 2:

“Informal assessment is less important than formal assessment.”
Informal assessment plays a key role in supporting learning.

Misunderstanding 3:

“Assessment interrupts teaching.”
Informal assessment is part of effective teaching, not separate from it.

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7. Recognition Check: Awareness in Practice

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Consider the situations below.

Situation A:
A teacher notices confusion and re-explains a concept.

Situation B:
A teacher asks questions to check understanding during a lesson.

Situation C:
A teacher observes student work and adjusts the next task.

All three situations show informal assessment in action.

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8. Key Takeaways

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• Informal assessment happens continuously in classrooms

• It helps teachers understand learning as it develops

• It supports timely teaching decisions

• Awareness connects assessment with learning and teaching

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