The concept of Assessment for Learning is synonymous with

The concept of Assessment for Learning (AfL) is a powerful pedagogical approach centered on using assessment to actively enhance student learning, rather than merely measuring it. It is fundamentally synonymous with formative assessment. Unlike summative assessment, which typically occurs at the end of a learning unit to evaluate overall achievement, formative assessment is an ongoing process embedded throughout instruction. AfL involves providing continuous feedback to students, encouraging self-reflection, and enabling teachers to adjust their teaching strategies in real-time based on student understanding. This iterative cycle of teaching, assessing, and adapting directly mirrors the core principles of formative assessment. While diagnostic assessment identifies specific learning difficulties and placement assessment determines readiness, AfL's primary goal is to inform and improve the learning journey itself, making it a direct equivalent to formative assessment in practice and purpose.