Toward the end of the unit on animals, a second grade class goes on a field trip to the zoo. Upon returning, the teacher discusses what they saw and then asks each student to draw a picture with a written description. This activity is characteristic of which assessment method?

• A. Performance-based
• B. Standardized testing
• C. Informal quiz
• D. Portfolio-based

Answer: (A)

Performance-based assessment. This approach asks students to show what they’ve learned by doing a task that produces a tangible product. Here, the students observe during a field trip, then create a drawn picture accompanied by a written description. That requires applying the sights, observations, and understanding of animals to a real artifact they produce and explain, demonstrating both comprehension and communication skills. It’s not standardized testing, which uses fixed questions; not an informal quiz, which is usually a quick, lighter check; and not a portfolio by itself, which would involve a collection of work over time rather than a single integrated task.