FTCE Reading K-12 Practice Exam

What is a characteristic of performance-based assessments?

1. They require a student to select an answer from a pre-determined list of options.

2. They assess students through standardized testing only.

3. They require a student to perform a task rather than select an answer from a pre-determined list of options.

4. They focus solely on written examinations.

The correct answer is: They require a student to perform a task rather than select an answer from a pre-determined list of options.

The correct answer highlights that performance-based assessments require students to actively engage in a task, demonstrating their skills and understanding through their actions rather than merely selecting an answer from a list. This type of assessment emphasizes the application of knowledge in real-world scenarios, allowing students to showcase their abilities in practical contexts. In contrast, other options focus on more passive forms of assessment. The idea of selecting from a predetermined list aligns more with traditional multiple-choice tests, which do not measure a student's ability to perform or apply knowledge. Standardized testing alone does not incorporate the hands-on or performance aspects that performance-based assessments do. Additionally, limiting the assessment focus solely to written examinations ignores the diverse methods of evaluating students’ understanding, which performance-based assessments aim to incorporate through interactive and applied tasks.