Which assessment type is used to identify specific strengths and weaknesses for an individual student?

• A. Diagnostic assessment
• B. Universal screener
• C. Progress monitoring
• D. Summative test

Answer: (A)

A diagnostic assessment is used to pinpoint exact strengths and weaknesses for an individual student. It goes beyond a general check and uses targeted tasks to reveal which specific skills a student can perform well and which areas need more support, such as phonemic awareness, letter-sound knowledge, decoding strategies, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This detailed information guides teachers in planning personalized instruction that targets the student’s precise needs and builds on existing strengths.

Universal screeners quickly flag students who may be at risk but don’t provide the in-depth detail about individual skill gaps. Progress monitoring tracks progress over time to see if instruction is helping, not to map out specific weaknesses. Summative tests measure overall achievement after instruction, rather than diagnosing specific areas to target.