What is the primary function of a graded test?

The primary function of a graded test is to evaluate student understanding and contribute to final grading. Graded tests are designed to assess the knowledge and skills that students have acquired throughout a course or instructional period. This assessment helps determine how well students have grasped the material, which is critically important for both the learner and the instructor.

By quantifying student performance, graded tests provide a clear metric for evaluating readiness to progress in their education or training. Furthermore, the results of these tests often play a significant role in assigning grades, which are used to reflect students' academic standing and achievement.

While feedback on student behavior, informal checks of knowledge, and curriculum adjustments are important aspects of the educational process, these activities generally serve different purposes. They may provide supplementary information that supports teaching and learning, but they do not hold the same weight in terms of evaluating student comprehension and contributing formally to academic assessments as graded tests do.