ABSTRACT
Assessment is an integral feature of teaching, but there are many forms of assessment and various uses made of the results. At any stage assessment may be used to diagnose learning difficulties, to analyse and predict progress, to grade pupils within a class or year group in a school. Also to offer pupils a record of their achievements, or to select pupils for admission to a further stage of education. The most common form of assessment for these purposes has traditionally been the external examination. In developing school-based assessment systems it is important that public respect be sought and won by providing ample information and explanation. For some right-wing politicians it appears that school-based assessment gives teachers opportunities to promulgate subversive views. It is sometimes alleged that school-based assessment contrasts with externally controlled assessment in being less systematic or scientific.
