Which type of assessment occurs at the end of an instructional period?

The type of assessment that occurs at the end of an instructional period is summative assessment. This form of assessment is designed to evaluate and measure students' learning outcomes after a specific period of instruction, such as the end of a unit, course, or academic year. Summative assessments often take the form of final exams, projects, or portfolios that provide a comprehensive overview of what students have learned and how well they have achieved the learning objectives.

Summative assessments serve several purposes: they help educators determine the effectiveness of their teaching methods, provide data for assessing student performance relative to standards, and offer insights into students' progress over time. By gathering this information after instruction, teachers can make informed decisions about future curriculum planning and instructional strategies.

In contrast, diagnostic assessments are used prior to instruction to identify students' strengths and weaknesses, formative assessments are conducted throughout the instructional period to track ongoing progress and inform teaching, and benchmark assessments are designed to measure students' performance at specific points in time relative to learning standards. Each of these assessment types serves distinct roles in the educational process, focusing on different stages and objectives of student learning.