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Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Assessment and Evaluation

assessment vs evaluationAssessment is defined as a process of appraising something or someone, i.e. the act of gauging the quality, value or importance. As against, evaluation focuses on making a judgment about values, numbers or performance of someone or something. Assessment is made to identify the level of performance of an individual, whereas evaluation is performed to determine the degree to which goals are attained.

The basic difference between assessment and evaluation lies in the orientation, i.e. while the assessment is process oriented, evaluation is product oriented. The article presented to you describes all the distinguishing points between these two.

Content: Assessment Vs Evaluation

  1. Comparison Chart
  2. Definition
  3. Key Differences
  4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for ComparisonAssessmentEvaluation
MeaningAssessment is a process of collecting, reviewing and using data, for the purpose of improvement in the current performance.Evaluation is described as an act of passing judgement on the basis of set of standards.
NatureDiagnosticJudgemental
What it does?Provides feedback on performance and areas of improvement.Determines the extent to which objectives are achieved.
PurposeFormativeSummative
OrientationProcess Oriented Product Oriented
FeedbackBased on observation and positive & negative points.Based on the level of quality as per set standard.
Relationship between partiesReflectivePrescriptive
CriteriaSet by both the parties jointly.Set by the evaluator.
Measurement StandardsAbsoluteComparative

Definition of Assessment

Assessment is defined as a methodical way of acquiring, reviewing and using information about someone or something, so as to make improvement where necessary. The term is interpreted in a variety of ways, i.e. educational, psychological, financial, taxation, human resource and so on.

In general, assessment is an ongoing interactive process, in which two parties (assessor and assessee) are involved. The assessor is someone who assesses the performance based on the defined standards, while assessee is someone who is being assessed. The process aims at determining the effectiveness of the overall performance of the assessee and the areas of improvement. The process involves, setting up goals, collecting information (qualitative and quantitative) and using the information for increasing quality.

Definition of Evaluation

The term ‘evaluation’ is derived from the word ‘value’ which refers to ‘usefulness of something’. Therefore, evaluation is an examination of something to measure its utility.

Simply put, evaluation is a systematic and objective process of measuring or observing someone or something, with an aim of drawing conclusions, using criteria, usually governed by set standards or by making a comparison. It gauges the performance of a person, completed project, process or product, to determine its worth or significance.

The evaluation includes both quantitative and qualitative analysis of data and undertaken once in a while. It ascertains whether the standards or goals established are met or not. If they are met successfully, then it identifies the difference between actual and intended outcomes.

Key Differences Between Assessment and Evaluation

The significant differences between assessment and evaluation are discussed in the points given below:

  1. The process of collecting, reviewing and using data, for the purpose of improvement in the current performance, is called assessment. A process of passing judgment, on the basis of defined criteria and evidence is called evaluation.
  2. Assessment is diagnostic in nature as it tends to identify areas of improvement. On the other hand, evaluation is judgemental, because it aims at providing an overall grade.
  3. The assessment provides feedback on performance and ways to enhance performance in future. As against this, evaluation ascertains whether the standards are met or not.
  4. The purpose of assessment is formative, i.e. to increase quality whereas evaluation is all about judging quality, therefore the purpose is summative.
  5. Assessment is concerned with process, while evaluation focuses on product.
  6. In an assessment, the feedback is based on observation and positive & negative points. In contrast to evaluation, in which the feedback relies on the level of quality as per set standard.
  7. In an assessment, the relationship between assessor and assessee is reflective, i.e. the criteria are defined internally. On the contrary, the evaluator and evaluatee share a prescriptive relationship, wherein the standards are imposed externally.
  8. The criteria for assessment are set by both the parties jointly. As opposed to evaluation, wherein the criteria are set by the evaluator.
  9. The measurement standards for assessment are absolute, which seeks to achieve the quintessential outcome. As against this, standards of measurement for evaluation are comparative, that makes a distinction between better and worse.

Conclusion

So, after reviewing the points above, it would be clear that assessment and evaluation are completely different. While evaluation involves making judgments, assessment is concerned with correcting the deficiencies in one’s performance. Although, they play a crucial role in analysing and refining the performance of a person, product, project or process.

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Comments

  1. SAmi says

    October 28, 2016 at 1:55 am

    Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  2. Narendra says

    January 29, 2017 at 6:23 am

    Precise and useful.

    Reply
  3. Musaed says

    October 9, 2017 at 10:00 pm

    I would never be confused again about the difference between assessment and evaluation. Thanks.

    Reply
  4. Kelly Mokashi says

    June 14, 2018 at 8:58 pm

    Can we use this article educationally, is there a copyright issue?

    Reply
    • Surbhi S says

      June 15, 2018 at 9:40 am

      You can use the article, subject to proper references are given to keydifferences.com

      Reply
  5. Naijil George says

    June 19, 2018 at 6:56 pm

    I thought, both are very much same. This article is an eye opener.

    Reply
  6. Mehr.a.zadeh says

    July 11, 2018 at 10:39 pm

    Hi, your contents are excellent. Thanx

    Reply
  7. mohammed says

    August 27, 2018 at 11:34 am

    very detail message with concise note

    Reply
  8. Mfanelo Siziba says

    September 3, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    This is wonderful, well researched. Where can I get more references on this?

    Reply
  9. Tomas says

    September 6, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    Really great summary; however, I’d appreciate it if you could add some book references.

    Reply
  10. Maryam Talebi says

    December 12, 2018 at 12:22 am

    I really appreciate it

    Reply
  11. Augustine B says

    April 10, 2019 at 11:55 am

    Thanks very much for the information which is precise and helpful.

    Reply
  12. MUGABI S.R says

    September 16, 2019 at 3:37 pm

    Thank you very much,I now get the difference

    Reply
    • Eliag says

      March 13, 2020 at 9:52 am

      Thanks for the piece. Could you please distinguish the three? (measurement, assessment and evaluation)

      Reply
  13. NIMUSIIMA IVAN says

    September 21, 2019 at 8:14 pm

    Wonderful!!
    Am humbled

    Reply
  14. zulfiaqar Ali says

    February 18, 2020 at 10:43 am

    Thank you so much for this valuable information

    Reply
  15. nagwa says

    May 26, 2020 at 5:11 am

    thanks for help

    Reply
  16. Toaua says

    February 12, 2021 at 5:18 am

    Thanks so much for the important message and I think that it will be helpful in doing my second assignment…
    Cheers…

    Reply
  17. Isuri says

    February 19, 2021 at 10:54 am

    Wonderful answer

    Reply
  18. Paul King Ayinde says

    February 19, 2021 at 8:49 pm

    Thank you immensely for these explicit explanations. They have really helped me.

    Reply
  19. saliha belhacene says

    February 20, 2021 at 1:18 am

    It’s so useful.
    Thanks

    Reply
  20. Mansharam says

    February 21, 2021 at 10:58 pm

    It is a base of understanding the difference between them

    Reply
  21. Lubega paul says

    March 3, 2021 at 4:08 pm

    Thanks for the wonderful and precise information
    I have learnt a lot from your information

    Reply
  22. Munyope Joseph says

    March 17, 2021 at 3:48 pm

    Yes maximum appreciation for the wonderful message indeed I have learnt the distinction between these two concepts.

    Reply
  23. Nakasumba GORRET says

    March 26, 2021 at 6:50 am

    I thought these words are the same but l realized that there is a big difference between them thanks alot

    Reply
  24. Ainomugisha Emily says

    March 28, 2021 at 11:44 am

    Really helpful

    Reply
    • Faith hajara Barack says

      April 2, 2021 at 10:38 pm

      Thanks a lot for the clarification

      Reply
  25. Kakaire Joseph says

    April 8, 2021 at 12:27 pm

    Thanks for the message have really learnt about assessment and evaluation and their comparisons

    Reply
  26. Agaba Ashraf says

    April 9, 2021 at 3:03 am

    Thanx i have managed to understand and learnt how to distinguish between evaluation and assessment and they cannot confuse me at all in applying them as a teacher.

    Reply
  27. Kamuhanda William says

    April 14, 2021 at 3:44 pm

    Thanks for the useful information about the differences between Assessment and Evaluation I used to think that they are the same but they are not similar

    Reply
  28. Ahaisibwe micheal says

    April 16, 2021 at 10:31 pm

    Vital information about the differences between assessment and evaluation.

    Reply
  29. Dr.Dilip Chaudhari says

    April 17, 2021 at 12:51 pm

    Really, very good explain the difference between assessment and evaluation

    Reply
  30. Halliru Sule says

    December 7, 2021 at 11:19 am

    Thank you for differentiate all this information.

    Reply
  31. haron chemutai says

    February 7, 2022 at 7:54 pm

    Thank you for the great work

    Reply
  32. Chitra Rodrigo says

    March 9, 2022 at 4:59 pm

    I had a doubt on the difference between assignment and evaluation. NOW I ‘m confident. Thank you very much!

    Reply
  33. fajar mag says

    August 13, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    Such a brilliant information

    Reply
  34. Ada Morrison says

    February 2, 2023 at 11:15 am

    Thank you for the information.

    Reply
  35. Musana Elias says

    February 28, 2023 at 8:29 am

    Your work has cleared the misconceptions l had about the two
    Now clear
    thanks for your research

    Reply
  36. Mohanraj Sathuvalli says

    April 6, 2023 at 4:32 pm

    I found the article extremely useful It is precise and helps a reader understand the two terms without any ambiguity. Makes useful reading materials for teachers.

    Reply
  37. Farhana says

    June 13, 2023 at 1:19 pm

    want to know full name of Surbhi as I have to write reference in my assignment.

    Reply
  38. Tom says

    June 16, 2023 at 6:35 pm

    This informative article clearly explains the difference between assessment and evaluation

    Reply
  39. El-Med says

    September 9, 2023 at 10:48 pm

    Thanks for your effort about those two concepts, I really understand their differences now

    Reply

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