Pop quiz! Tests are good for: (a) Assessing what you’ve learned; (b) Learning new information; (c) Both a and b (d) Neither a, b or c.
According to research published in the journal Psychological Science, it’s both (a) and (b) – while testing can be useful as an assessment tool, the actual process of taking a test can also help us to learn and retain new information over the long term and apply it to different contexts.
The research explores the nuanced interactions between testing, memory and learning and suggests possible applications for testing in educational settings.