Differentiate between internal assessment and external assessment

differentiate between internal assessment and external assessment

Differentiation between Internal Assessment and External Assessment

Answer:

Assessment is an essential part of the educational process. It is a method of evaluating the knowledge, abilities, and skills of students to determine their proficiency. There are two types of assessments: Internal and External. In this post, we will differentiate between internal assessment and external assessment.

Internal Assessment

Internal assessment is the evaluation of the students throughout the course, which is conducted by the institute or college. It is a continuous process of evaluation that can take place in various forms, such as assignments, projects, class activities, and practical work. In internal assessment, students are assessed based on their attendance, class participation, and performance in various tasks assigned to them throughout the duration of the course.

Internal assessment is beneficial for students because it provides them with regular feedback that helps them to identify their strengths and weaknesses. It also gives students an opportunity to practice and improve their skills, and it motivates them to be actively involved in the learning process. Moreover, internal assessment helps teachers to understand the learning progress of their students and adjust their teaching methods accordingly.

External Assessment

External assessment is an evaluation of the students’ knowledge and skills that is carried out by an external authority. It mainly consists of the final exam that tests the students on the knowledge they have acquired throughout the course. The external assessment exam is usually a standardized test that is designed to assess the students’ performance in a specific subject area.

External assessment is beneficial because it can provide an unbiased evaluation of the students’ knowledge and skills. It is also an excellent tool for comparing the performance of students from different institutions. Furthermore, external assessment can help to maintain a high standard of education, as it encourages teachers to focus on the areas that are of utmost importance for the final exams.

Differences between Internal Assessment and External Assessment

The following are the major differences between internal assessment and external assessment:

1. Purpose: The primary purpose of internal assessment is to evaluate students’ performance throughout the course, while the primary purpose of external assessment is to evaluate students’ knowledge and skills at the end of the course.

2. Conducting Authority: Internal assessment is conducted by the institute or college, while external assessment is conducted by an external authority.

3. Evaluation Criteria: In internal assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in various tasks assigned to them throughout the duration of the course. In contrast, external assessment evaluates students primarily on their final exam performance.

4. Feedback: Internal assessment provides regular feedback to students, while external assessment provides feedback only after the final exam.

5. Bias: External assessment can be biased because it is conducted by an external authority, while internal assessment is less biased because it is conducted by the institute or college.

In conclusion, both internal assessment and external assessment are essential components of the educational system. While internal assessment evaluates students’ performance throughout the course, external assessment evaluates students’ knowledge and skills at the end of the course. Both types of assessments have their distinct benefits and limitations, and they should be used together to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the students’ learning progress.