What is the Difference Between Examination and Assessment

The main difference between examination and assessment is that an examination is a final product that measures and evaluates a set of objectives or a particular behavior, while an assessment is a procedure of evaluation rather than a product.

Educators use assessments both during and after the teaching and learning process in order to evaluate the level of knowledge acquisition and the effectiveness of the tools and methods used to impart the expected skills and knowledge to students. Once they interpret the assessment results, they can alter the instruction if required. However, an examination is more like a final evaluation where examiners measure whether the candidate has acquired the expected skills and competencies. In contrast to assessments, results of examinations are always issued after instruction has taken place. Therefore, they have no impact on the instruction.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is an Examination
– Definition, Features
2. What is an Assessment
– Definition, Features
3. Similarities Between Examination and Assessment
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Examination and Assessment
– Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Assessment, Exam, Examination

What is Examination

An examination is a written or oral formal evaluation of theoretical or practical knowledge acquired by the candidate mainly based on his or her acquisition of learning objectives. Generally, an examination is held right after the completion of a teaching-learning process. Terms tests, monthly tests, and semester examinations at universities are some examinations most of us commonly face.

Examinations are usually held by trained examiners. At the end of an examination, a student receives a pass mark or a standard grade, which symbolizes the proficiency of that particular candidate in the given area of study. Therefore, we can describe an examination as an evaluative device that measures a candidates’ behavior or knowledge in a particular domain and then grades or scores it through a standardized process.

What is an Assessment

An assessment is a process of evaluation through which the assessor gets an idea about the effectiveness of the instruction used so far in the teaching process. An educator can use assessments during the teaching and learning process as well. Educators use assessments to measure three key factors associated with the learning objectives of a particular lesson. They are the skills, knowledge, and attitudes acquired and demonstrated by the student in completing a given task.

Educators use different types of assessments after and during instruction, and they serve different purposes. Some common assessment methods include diagnostic assessments, formative assessments, summative assessments, and confirmative assessments.

Similarities Between Examination and Assessment

Every individual has gone through different types of formal and informal examinations and assessments during his or her life.
Both examination and assessment help measure the knowledge, skills, and competence of students.
Basically, examination and assessment are both methods of testing and evaluating candidates.

Difference Between Examination and Assessment

Definition

An examination is a written or oral formal evaluation of theoretical or practical knowledge acquired by the candidate mainly based on his or her acquisition of learning objectives. On the other hand, an assessment is a process of evaluation through which the assessor gets an idea about the effectiveness of the instruction used so far.

During or After Instruction

In general, an examination is held after the process of instruction, but it is possible to hold an assessment both during or after instruction.

Nature

An examination is a final product that measures and evaluates a set of objectives or a particular behavior, while an assessment is a procedure of evaluation rather than a product.

Conclusion

The main difference between examination and assessment is that an examination is an evaluation that educators or examiners hold at the end of a particular teaching and learning process, whereas educators hold assessments both during and at the end of the teaching and learning processes. Furthermore, unlike grades and scores offered to candidates at examinations, the grading and scoring given in assessments become beneficial for the educators in altering their instruction in recognized areas.