Formative assessment is one of the most powerful, yet often underused, tools available to teachers and tutors. When used consistently and purposefully, it can transform how pupils learn—boosting confidence, clarifying misconceptions, and guiding future teaching. Unlike summative assessment, which evaluates learning at the end of a unit, formative assessment happens during the learning process. It’s dynamic, flexible and designed to give instant feedback to both pupil and teacher.

In this blog, we’ll unpack what formative assessment really means, why it’s essential in every lesson, and how you can implement practical strategies that work—whether you’re in a classroom or delivering one-to-one tuition.

What Is Formative Assessment?

Formative assessment refers to the range of activities and strategies used to check pupil understanding during a lesson, not after. The goal isn’t to give a mark or compare students against each other. Instead, it helps both the learner and the educator recognise where they are in the learning journey—and what needs to happen next.

Effective formative assessment includes:

• Opportunities for pupils to demonstrate what they know
• Moments for teachers to interpret responses in real time
• Adjustments to instruction based on what’s observed

It’s not a single tool or worksheet. It’s an approach to teaching that treats every interaction as a chance to learn more about pupil thinking.

Why Is Formative Assessment So Important?

When teaching continues without checking for understanding, pupils can fall behind without anyone realising. They may copy down notes, nod along, or complete tasks without truly grasping the material. Formative assessment prevents this by acting as a real-time satnav for your teaching. It shows where pupils are, where they need to be, and how to get them there.

In research conducted by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), formative assessment (also known as “Assessment for Learning”) is consistently shown to have a high impact for a low cost. In secondary schools, it has been linked to improved attainment and better pupil engagement—especially for lower-achieving students.

Perhaps more importantly, it fosters a culture of reflection. Pupils who regularly reflect on their progress and identify areas for growth are more likely to become independent learners. Over time, they develop the self-regulation skills needed to revise effectively, tackle new challenges, and seek help when needed.

Five Formative Assessment Techniques You Can Use Right Now

So, how can you bring formative assessment into your day-to-day practice? Here are five strategies that work well in secondary teaching and tutoring environments. Each one is low-effort but high-impact when used consistently.

1. Exit Tickets
   At the end of a lesson, ask students to answer a short question related to the key learning objective. This could be “What’s one thing you learned today?” or “What question do you still have about this topic?” Use their responses to guide your next lesson.
2. Mini Whiteboards or Quick Polls
   These allow you to gather responses from every student, not just the most confident ones. Ask a question and have pupils hold up their answers. This technique is fast and makes misconceptions immediately visible.
3. Think–Pair–Share
   Pose a question, give pupils thinking time, then have them discuss with a partner before sharing with the class. This encourages every pupil to formulate a response and test it in a low-pressure setting.
4. Cold Calling
   Rather than asking for volunteers, call on students at random. This raises the level of attention in the room and gives you a broader sample of understanding. To keep this supportive, allow think time before asking for answers and acknowledge effort as much as accuracy.
5. Confidence Checks
   Ask students to rate their confidence on a scale from 1 to 5, either verbally, on paper, or digitally. Use this information to pair students strategically or decide which topics need revisiting.

How to Use Formative Assessment Effectively

Using formative assessment isn’t just about picking a strategy—it’s about the mindset behind the method. It works best when it’s embedded naturally into your teaching style, rather than being bolted on.

One of the biggest mistakes teachers and tutors make is gathering feedback, but not acting on it. If pupils reveal confusion and nothing changes, they may begin to feel unheard or frustrated. To get the most from formative assessment, it’s vital to be responsive.

Here’s what effective use looks like:

• You ask a well-structured question.
• Pupils respond in a way that reveals their thinking.
• You interpret the response and decide what it tells you.
• You adjust your teaching—whether that means revisiting content, regrouping students, or offering an alternative explanation.

This responsiveness is what turns a quiz or discussion into a truly formative experience.

Overcoming Common Challenges

Teachers are often under pressure to ‘get through’ the curriculum. When time is tight, formative assessment can feel like a luxury. However, skipping it can result in greater issues down the line—especially when misconceptions go unspotted until exam season.

The key is to embed formative strategies that are quick, simple, and reliable. It doesn’t have to be formal or time-consuming. A five-second confidence check or a well-phrased follow-up question can tell you just as much as a marked test.

In one-to-one tutoring, the challenge is slightly different. Pupils may feel self-conscious revealing what they don’t know. This makes it even more important to create a safe, encouraging environment where mistakes are normalised and feedback is seen as helpful.

Building a Culture of Assessment for Learning

Formative assessment is most effective when it becomes part of the classroom culture. This means pupils understand its purpose and see it as a tool for growth, not judgement. Over time, they begin to assess themselves and their peers in constructive ways.

Encourage this by:

• Giving feedback that focuses on the next step, not just the result
• Modelling self-assessment and reflection
• Avoiding language that implies fixed ability (e.g. “You’re just not good at maths”)

With consistency, pupils begin to internalise this reflective mindset and become more proactive in their learning.

Final Thoughts

Formative assessment is more than a teaching technique—it’s a philosophy. It puts the learner at the centre and treats each lesson as a conversation, not a lecture. When used consistently, it builds trust, improves outcomes, and creates a more responsive and dynamic learning environment.

Whether you’re teaching in a classroom or tutoring one-to-one, these strategies can help you see learning more clearly—and ensure no pupil slips through the cracks.

If you’d like a little extra help or a free education consultation, reach out to us to discuss your needs.