Final answer:
Standardized tests are annual assessments with time limits for all students in certain grades, focusing on reading comprehension and reporting scores in percentiles or NCEs, with states having the ability to develop their own tests.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of assessment being described is a standardized test, which is administered to all students annually, typically within specific grade levels such as in grades 3–8. These assessments have strict time limits and are conducted under quiet conditions where students work independently. The comprehension of passages is often a key component, and the results are usually reported in percentile ranks or Normal Curve Equivalents (NCEs). It's important to note that states can create their standardized assessments or opt to use national versions. This aligns with changes seen in policies like the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which emphasizes state accountability and grants states more autonomy in terms of their educational standards and goals, while still mandating annual testing. Standardized tests serve as a form of practice and assessment, allowing educators and policymakers to gauge student progress on a broad scale. They differ from formative assessments, such as practice problems and check your understanding questions, which are used to review comprehension of concepts more frequently and with a formative intent. Unlike performance tasks, which are more practical applications of content knowledge, standardized tests tend to focus on a breadth of knowledge and skills across a wide range of subject matter.