Learning assessment is part of evaluating and monitoring education more broadly. It refers to a wide range of methods and tools used to evaluate, measure and document learning outcomes and learning progress. It is about gathering information from multiple sources on what learners know and what they can do with what they have learnt. It also provides information on the process and context that enable learning, as well as those that may be hindering the learning process.
UNESCO. 2017. Learning assessment at UNESCO: ensuring effective and relevant learning for all. Paris: UNESCO.
In the last decade, the number of countries conducting large-scale learning assessments has doubled. Yet despite the importance – and controversy – attached to these tests, there is little information to help policymakers and practitioners make informed decisions about how to implement different types of assessments and use the results (UIS, 2015).
UIS. 2015. Catalogue of learning assessments: a public resource to learning assessments around the world. Montreal: UIS.