Preparing Students for the Future Through Varied Assessments

 

Preparing Students for the Future Through Varied Assessments

At Oakhill, our goal is to prepare students not only for the next grade level but for high school, college, and the world beyond the classroom. One important way we support this goal is by providing students with opportunities to demonstrate their learning through a variety of assessment formats. Students today must be able to think critically, communicate clearly, and adapt to different academic environments. Because of this, Oakhill intentionally provides a balanced approach that includes both digital and traditional paper and pencil assessments.

In the classroom, students regularly engage in a mix of learning and assessment experiences, including

 • short quizzes, written responses, & fill in the blank
• problem solving tasks in mathematics
• written explanations of thinking and reasoning
• digital assessments and interactive tasks
• paper and pencil tests and written responses

This variety allows students to practice organizing their thinking, communicating ideas clearly, and demonstrating their knowledge in different ways.

Why Varied Assessment Formats Matter

As students move through their academic careers, they encounter many different types of assessments. In high school and college, students may be asked to complete

 • online exams
• handwritten essay exams
• written research papers
• digital assignments and presentations
• paper based problem solving tasks

Practicing different formats helps students develop cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to adapt their thinking and demonstrate their knowledge across different environments. Educational research consistently shows that writing and explanation based responses strengthen learning. When students explain their reasoning or organize their ideas in writing, they engage in deeper thinking and processing of information. This type of active engagement supports stronger comprehension, reasoning, and long term retention of knowledge.

Why We Are Returning ERB Testing to Paper and Pencil

In recent years, Oakhill administered the ERB Comprehensive Testing Program digitally. While digital testing offers efficiency and convenience, we are intentionally shifting the ERB CTP assessment back to a paper and pencil format.

This decision reflects our commitment to giving students practice with multiple types of assessments and ensuring they develop the full range of academic skills needed for future success.

Paper based testing provides students with opportunities to:

• sustain attention while reading longer passages
• annotate and process printed texts
• organize written responses and problem solving on paper
• practice traditional testing environments they will encounter in later academic settings

Research suggests that reading printed materials and writing responses by hand are important parts of the learning process. When students write by hand, they often slow down and organize their ideas rather than simply record information, which can support deeper understanding. Studies on reading comprehension also indicate that printed texts can play an important role in helping students work through longer or more complex material.

For these reasons, providing students with experience in paper based assessments remains an important part of preparing them for future academic expectations.

Why Oakhill Uses Both

Because both formats offer important benefits, Oakhill intentionally uses a balanced assessment approach. Students participate in digital assessments such as iReady Diagnostics, which provide teachers with actionable data to guide instruction. Students also participate in the ERB Comprehensive Testing Program CTP, a nationally normed standardized assessment that evaluates a broad range of academic skills including:

• Auditory comprehension
• Vocabulary
• Written mechanics
• Writing concepts & Skills
• Verbal Reasoning
• Science
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Mathematics 
• Algebra
• Reading Comprehension  

Returning ERB testing to paper and pencil allows students to experience another type of assessment environment while strengthening reading, writing, and reasoning skills. Providing students with experience in both digital and traditional formats helps ensure they are prepared for the variety of academic expectations they will encounter throughout their education

Preparing Students for High School, College, and Beyond

In higher education and professional environments, students and adults must regularly demonstrate their knowledge in both digital and traditional formats. College courses may include online exams, handwritten essay tests, research papers, multiple choice, and digital projects. By giving students experience with varied assessments now, we help them develop the skills needed to:

• think critically
• communicate ideas clearly
• solve complex problems
• adapt to different academic environments

At Oakhill, assessments are not simply tools for measuring performance. They are opportunities for students to strengthen their thinking, communication, and problem solving skills that will support their success throughout their educational journey and beyond. 

Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll share how Oakhill thoughtfully and systematically prepares students by teaching test-taking strategies and building the skills they need for success!