What type of feedback does formative assessment primarily provide?

Formative assessment is focused on monitoring student learning throughout the instructional process and providing feedback that can enhance ongoing learning. This type of feedback is not about assigning final grades or measuring overall performance after a learning period, as indicated by the option concerning final grades, which is more characteristic of summative assessments.

The essence of formative assessment lies in continuous improvement; it offers insights into students’ understanding and skills while they are still developing them. This feedback informs both instructors and learners about what strategies are working and what areas need more attention, allowing for timely adjustments in teaching methods or learning approaches.

Additionally, it contrasts with standardized testing outcomes, which are designed to measure performance against a set standard rather than providing individualized feedback for improvement. While peer-to-peer evaluations can be a component of formative assessment, they do not encapsulate the primary purpose of formative assessments, which is to foster learning rather than just assess it. Thus, the feedback provided by formative assessment is aimed at enhancing the learning journey, making option B the correct choice.