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Diagnostic assessments provide opportunities to reflect on pupils’ thinking, strengths, and weaknesses. They can give useful insights into learning, adding to the richness of the information teachers hold about their pupils.

When used effectively, diagnostic assessments can indicate areas for development with individual pupils or across classes and year groups. Some methods can also help teachers isolate the specific misconceptions pupils might hold.

Regardless of what form they take, it is important that teachers know why they are conducting assessments prior to using them. It should be clear what information the assessment is being designed to produce and how this information will inform subsequent decision making.

With the information diagnostic assessments provide, teachers may:

• decide to adjust the level of challenge of activities;

• reteach specific concepts or topics;

• adjust curriculum content in the medium or long term;

• provide pupils with feedback through which they can address their own areas for improvement; or

• decide which pupils may need additional, targeted academic support.