ABSTRACT
Different forms of diagnostic assessment help learners to be more effective and autonomous in their learning. Although diagnostic assessment underpins formative assessment and therefore has a crucial role in learning, many people associate it with the type of testing carried out by educational psychologists for learners with learning difficulties. Recently, it has been more widely associated with initial diagnostic testing in colleges and schools for literacy and numeracy skills, and particularly with the Basic Skills Agency's diagnostic tests for literacy and numeracy. Diagnostic assessment is also increasingly used as part of a more informal process of guidance which aims to help learners decide on their options before applying to join a particular programme.
