What is NOT a benefit of formative assessment?

Formative assessment primarily serves the purpose of monitoring student learning and providing ongoing feedback to improve student learning and performance. One of its main characteristics is that it occurs continuously throughout the learning process, rather than at a single point in time, which is the case with summative assessments.

The correct answer, which indicates that providing comprehensive end-term grades is not a benefit of formative assessment, is accurate because formative assessment is not designed to yield final evaluations. Instead, it focuses on identifying students' strengths and weaknesses while guiding instructional adjustments. Options such as tracking student progress, identifying areas for improvement, and allowing for immediate feedback are all essential functions of formative assessments that support learning and development. These aspects highlight how formative assessments are aimed at enhancing the educational experience in real-time, rather than providing definitive conclusions at the end of a learning period.