What are benchmarks in educational assessment?

Benchmarks in educational assessment serve as specific standards or set points of achievement that are expected from students. They provide educators with a clear and measurable target for what students should know and be able to do at various stages of their education. By establishing these benchmarks, teachers can assess student progress over time and ensure that they are meeting educational standards.

These benchmarks may be based on grade-level expectations or curriculum standards, offering a framework for both teaching and assessment. They guide instruction by highlighting essential skills and knowledge that students should acquire, which helps teachers to identify whether students are on track to meet these expectations.

Other options, while they describe different aspects of educational assessment, do not accurately capture the precise role of benchmarks. Random goals set by teachers may not align with concrete standards, standardized tests administered at the end of the year focus on overall performance rather than set points of achievement, and informal assessments, although useful for monitoring progress, do not define specific achievement standards in the way benchmarks do.