Diagnostic assessments (also known as pre-assessments) provide instructors with information about student's prior knowledge and misconceptions before beginning a learning activity and also diagnose students’ strengths and areas of need.

These assessments also provide a baseline for understanding how much learning has taken place after the learning activity is completed. Instructors usually build concepts sequentially throughout a course. A diagnostic pre-assessment provides an opportunity to determine if students remember the concepts they need. If some students don't remember important concepts, then a refresher will make the current activity more meaningful and improve learning outcomes for students.

Benefits of Diagnostic Assessments

• Indicate students' prior knowledge.

• Assess the learning that has occurred during a teaching/learning session.

• Can help instructors adjust content and activities to encourage more effective learning.

• May make the teaching/learning process more efficient and effective by zeroing in on content that needs to be taught and mastered.

• Can help students understand the value of a lesson, module, or entire course.

• Can point out to students the gaps in student’s reasoning and misperceptions about subject matter.

• May motivate students to seek accurate information and practice.

• Demonstrate to students that their instructors care about them as people and about their success as learners.