Which assessment includes teacher questions asked aloud, journals, portfolios, and role-play, and may be used for learning or for a grade?

• A. Formal assessment
• B. Formal and Informal assessments
• C. Formative assessments
• D. Informal assessment

Answer: (D)

Informal assessment focuses on flexible, classroom-based methods used to gauge understanding in real-time and guide instruction. The activities described—teacher questions asked aloud, journals, portfolios, and role-play—are classic examples of informal assessment because they happen naturally during learning, are not tied to a formal standardized test, and provide ongoing feedback about what students can do in authentic contexts. While these methods can contribute to a grade if the teacher chooses, their main purpose is to observe and support learning rather than to administer a fixed, high-stakes measurement. Formative assessment is about using information gathered during instruction to improve learning, and these informal tools often serve that purpose; however, the defining feature here is the informal, flexible, in-class nature of the methods themselves.