Evaluation systems
Evaluation judges how far objectives are met. It may be formative or summative, norm- or criterion-referenced, and under CBCS it uses credits and grade points.
Types of evaluation
| Type | When or basis | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | Before instruction | Find the entry level; place in the right group | Entrance or pre-test |
| Formative | During instruction | Improve learning through feedback | Unit tests, quizzes, assignments |
| Diagnostic | During instruction, when problems persist | Find the causes of learning difficulties, then plan remedies | Diagnostic test followed by remedial teaching |
| Summative | End of course or term | Grade, certify, promote | End-semester examination |
| Norm-referenced | Compared with others in the group | Rank and select | Percentile in an entrance test |
| Criterion-referenced | Compared with a fixed standard | Check mastery of objectives | Driving licence test |
| Ipsative | Compared with the learner's own earlier work | Track personal growth | Progress portfolio |
Elements of evaluation: the evaluation triangle
- back to Objectives
Objectives, learning experiences and evaluation depend on one another. Evaluation checks the change in behaviour that the objectives aimed at.
Worked example: SGPA under CBCS
A student earns: Course 1 (4 credits) A+, Course 2 (4 credits) A, Course 3 (3 credits) B+, Course 4 (2 credits) O. On the UGC 10-point scale, find the SGPA.
- Grade points: O = 10, A+ = 9, A = 8, B+ = 7.
- Credit points = credits × grade point: 4 × 9 = 36, 4 × 8 = 32, 3 × 7 = 21, 2 × 10 = 20.
- Total credit points = 36 + 32 + 21 + 20 = 109.
- Total credits = 4 + 4 + 3 + 2 = 13.
- SGPA = 109 ÷ 13 = 8.38.
SGPA = 8.38. Shortcut: SGPA is just a credit-weighted average of grade points, so it must lie between the lowest and highest grade point.
CBCS, computer-based testing and innovations
- CBCS course types: core, elective (discipline-specific and generic), ability enhancement and skill enhancement courses.
- One credit = one hour of lecture or tutorial, or two hours of practical, per week for a semester.
- UGC 10-point grades: O 10, A+ 9, A 8, B+ 7, B 6, C 5, P 4, F 0. CGPA is the credit-weighted average of all SGPAs.
- Qualities of a good test: validity (most important), reliability, objectivity, usability, discrimination.
- Computer-based testing: on-screen items, shuffled order, quick scoring; a computer-adaptive test changes difficulty with each answer.
- Innovations: grading, semester system, continuous internal assessment, open-book exams, question banks, rubrics, e-portfolios, peer and self-assessment, online proctoring.
NET asks you to match evaluation types to their purpose, to spot formative vs summative in a scenario, and sometimes to compute or read SGPA/CGPA under CBCS.
Typical MCQ: “A teacher gives weekly quizzes to give feedback and adjust teaching. What type of evaluation is this?” Formative evaluation: done during instruction to improve learning, not to certify it.
Typical MCQ: “What does a criterion-referenced test compare a learner with?” A fixed standard of mastery, not other learners' performance (that is norm-referenced).
Formative forms learning (during), summative sums up (at the end). Norm = neighbours, criterion = cut-off.