The evaluation of personality variables, achievement, skill, or ability.

Assessment is used to accomplish different objectives: to learn more about the individual being tested; to rank individuals; for student placement; to identify specific problems and needs; and to improve learning or instruction. Tests of different types are administered and used by teachers, psychologists, and counselors to help students understand themselves and measure their performance against that of their peers. Assessments may be used to evaluate a child's ability or skill at a given point in time; alternatively, they may be used to predict a child's aptitudes or future capabilities.

Traditional standardized tests rely on specific, structured procedures and instructions given to all test-takers by the test administrator (or to be read by the test-takers themselves). With young children, this presents a problem. Young children (preschool and early elementary years) do not have past experience and familiarity with tests...