Which of the following best characterizes formative assessments?

The best characterization of formative assessments is that they inform instruction and provide feedback. Formative assessments are conducted during the learning process and are intended to give both educators and learners insight into how well students understand the material. This ongoing feedback allows teachers to adjust their instructional strategies to meet students' needs, facilitating a more personalized and effective learning experience.

Formative assessments can take many forms, such as quizzes, discussions, or informal observations, and their primary goal is to monitor student learning and provide continuous feedback rather than to assign a grade or rank students. This process ultimately aims to enhance student learning and support their development rather than merely evaluating their performance at a single point in time, as is the case with other forms of assessment.