Diagnostic evaluation identifies:

Diagnostic evaluation is specifically designed to identify a student's strengths, weaknesses, prior knowledge, and any specific learning difficulties or misconceptions they might possess. This type of evaluation typically occurs before or early in the instructional process. Its primary purpose is to inform and guide teaching strategies, allowing educators to tailor instruction and provide targeted support to address individual student needs effectively. This proactive approach helps prevent further learning gaps and ensures instruction is appropriately differentiated. Final achievement is assessed by summative evaluation, while teacher performance and curriculum gaps, though related, are not the direct focus of diagnostic evaluation, which centers on student learning challenges.