What is authentic assessment?

Bringing authentic assessment to life

Authentic assessment is an approach that can enable learning by measuring additional

components of knowledge. Assessment, as we know, is a crucial part of the learning
process, where educators can see what students know and don’t know, as well as why
students do or don’t understand a particular concept. As Dylan Williams says:
“Assessment is the bridge between teaching and learning—it is only through assessment
that we can find out whether what has happened in the classroom has produced the
learning we intended” (2011).

Prioritizing the learning experience for students doesn’t conclude with the end of an
activity, lecture, or course module; it is part of a continuum. Assessments, too, can be a
part of the process when teachers understand how to supplement student learning and
when students receive feedback on next steps.

Assessments come in different forms. Traditional assessments are typically time-bound

and require students to choose or offer a response. They test the recall and recognition
of knowledge. However, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that authentic
assessment not only enhances academic integrity, but is a more effective way to assess
student learning. Authentic assessments, in turn, are typically iterative and ask students
to perform a task, calling for the application of knowledge.

But what is an authentic assessment? And what does it entail? In this post, we dive into
the definition of authentic assessment and its benefits. Furthermore, we offer examples
of authentic assessment that can be used in a variety of grades or subject areas to
reflect the depth of authentic learning.

What is the definition of authentic assessment?

When determining how best to assess student knowledge, most educators would choose
an assessment that not only accurately measures a student’s learning, but
simultaneously helps to improve their understanding of the skills taught in that course
and their relevance beyond the classroom. Such assessments would be considered
“authentic” because they involve the application of knowledge in situations beyond the
classroom.
Authentic assessment is a type of assessment that requires learners to apply their
knowledge and skills in a real-world context. It measures what students know by
demonstrating how they can apply their knowledge. This type of assessment is designed
to measure students' ability to think critically, solve problems, and communicate
effectively.

In constructivist philosophy, learning is optimized when the students base their

understanding on their own concrete experiences gleaned from relevant learning.
John Dewey, an educational reformer and one of the forefathers of constructivist theory,
valued real-life contexts and problems as an educational experience. As Saul Mcleod,
Ph.D. goes on to say: “[Dewey] believed that if students only passively perceive a
problem and do not experience its consequences in a meaningful, emotional, and
reflective way, they are unlikely to adapt and revise their habits or construct new
habits, or will only do so superficially.”

Through a constructivist lens, authentic learning leads to deeper understanding and

authentic assessment explicitly measures that understanding. When instructors can
create tasks that mirror the very challenges faced by that discipline in the real world,
then students can adequately transfer what they’ve learned to various contexts,
scenarios, and situations.

In this way, authentic assessment helps learning go beyond memorization and helps
deepen understanding and relevance of course content.

What are the characteristics of authentic assessment?

There are a variety of ways to approach creating an assignment or assessment that is

authentic. According to Grant Wiggins, an assignment is authentic if it:

1. is realistic.
2. requires judgment and innovation.
3. asks the student to “do” the subject.
4. replicates or simulates the contexts in which adults are “tested” in the workplace
or in civic or personal life.
5. assesses the student’s ability to efficiently and effectively use a repertoire of
knowledge and skills to negotiate a complex task.
 6. allows appropriate opportunities to rehearse, practice, consult resources, and get
feedback on and refine performances and products (1998).

Conventional tests and conventional test questions such as those in standardized

multiple-choice exams are often an indirect measure of a student's ability to apply the
skills and knowledge gained in the classroom. While students may know the facts, do we
know if they can apply them? And how deeply do they understand concepts? While
conventional tests play an important part in curriculum–and are frequently easier to
grade and create—there is value in considering an authentic assessment over a
conventional assessment for many reasons.

Firstly, students are often more engaged in authentic assessments because they
involve real-world tasks, which makes them more interesting and motivating. Next,
instead of rote memorization, these assessments require high-order thinking and
problem-solving, asking students to choose which skills to apply, how, and where. If
instructors can provide a rubric that details the specific criteria by which the assessment
will be graded, oftentimes the challenge of grading authentic assessments can be
mitigated.

Consider the table below, drawn from Wiggins and created by Indiana University
Bloomington (USA), which illustrates the differences between typical tests and authentic
assessments:

Typical tests Authentic tasks Indicators of authenticity

Require correct Require a high-quality product Correctness is not the only

responses or performance, and a criterion; students must be able to
justification of the solutions to justify their answers.
problems encountered

Must be unknown to Should be known in advance The tasks and standards for
the student in advanceto students as much as judgment should be known or
to be valid possible predictable.
 Typical tests Authentic tasks Indicators of authenticity

Are disconnected from Are tied to real-world contexts The context and constraints of the
real-world contexts and constraints; require the task are like those encountered
and constraints student to “do” the subject by practitioners in the discipline.

Contain items that Are integrated challenges in The task is multifaceted and
isolate particular skills which a range of skills and complex, even if there is a right
or facts knowledge must be used in answer.
coordination

Include easily scored Involve complex tasks that for The validity of the assessment is
items which there may be no right not sacrificed in favor of reliable
answer, and that may not be scoring.
easily scored

Are “one shot”; Are iterative; contain recurring Students may use particular
students get one tasks knowledge or skills in several
chance to show their different ways or contexts.
learning

Provide a score Provide usable diagnostic The assessment is designed to

information about students’ improve future performance, and
skills and knowledge students are important
“consumers” of such information.

Authentic assessments can be contrasted with conventional test questions, which are
often indirect measures of a student’s ability to apply the knowledge and skills gained in
a course. Conventional tests have an important place in courses, but should be coupled
with authentic assessment wherever possible.

What are examples of authentic assessment in the classroom?

Authentic assessment can take many forms, some with a lighter lift than educators may
expect. In fact, there can be robust opportunities for students to illustrate their learning
with projects, oral presentations, and other hands-on options that ultimately makes
grading less tiresome for an instructor and possibly more enjoyable for students.
Below are a just a few ideas for authentic assessments that can be adapted for different
grade levels and subject areas:

1. Portfolios: Portfolios are collections of student work that demonstrate their

learning over time. Portfolios can include essays, projects, presentations, and
other artifacts. In a conference setting with parents and/or educators, students
can then talk about their portfolios and explain areas of confidence and areas of
growth.
2. Performance tasks: Performance tasks are activities that require students to
apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world context. Performance tasks can
include debates, presentations, and experiments.
3. Projects: Projects are long-term assignments that require students to use a
variety of skills and knowledge to complete a task. Projects can be individual or
group projects, and they can be completed in or out of school.
4. Debates: Debates are opportunities for students to argue for or against a
particular point of view. Debates can be held in class or in a public forum.
5. Simulations: Simulations are computer programs that allow students to
experience real-world situations. Simulations can be used to teach a variety of
subjects, including science, history, and economics.

Instructors in university or graduate programs may be interested to see how Indiana

University Bloomington approaches authentic assessment with the diagram below:

Examples of authentic assessments

Nursing Provide a case study of a patient and ask students to assess

and create a plan of care.

Business Develop a business/marketing/sales plan for an imaginary (or

real) company in a student's area of interest.

Computer Science Troubleshoot a problematic piece of code; develop a

website/app to solve a particular problem and/or meet a set of
criteria.

Psychology Examine/critique a case study from multiple theoretical

positions.
Public Affairs or Service Consider how a community agency might be impacted by a
Learning Courses particular challenge (budget cuts, infrastructure outage, public
health crisis, etc.).

Biology/Chemistry Draw a diagram of how a process works, indicating what

happens if X occurs.

What are the benefits of authentic assessment?

The University of New South Wales (AUS), maintains that “Authenticity is a fundamental
characteristic of good assessment practice” and that “students usually value it highly.”

When a nursing student is asked to participate in, say, a simulation or role play of a
scenario in place of writing an essay on “The benefits of good bedside manner,” the
student must contextualize their learning and react to the real-world unpredictability and
complexity that a scenario presents. Instead of merely writing about how they would try
to soothe a nervous patient in the operating room, they would have to engage in role
play, apply what they have learned in their courses, and solve problems in real-time. In
this situation, both the instructor and the students themselves will see the competency
they have gained through study.

In addition to motivating students to learn and engage, the benefits of authentic

assessment include:

1. Providing a more accurate picture of students' learning.

2. Helping students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
3. Supporting students in increasing their communication and collaboration skills.
4. Allowing teachers to differentiate instruction for all learners.

Overall, the benefits go both ways: students glean a meaningful amount of information
and can showcase their knowledge effectively when assessed authentically; educators
can acquire a more accurate understanding and measurement of their students’ learning
and see very clearly what they know and where they have potential to grow.
The link between authentic assessment and academic integrity

In one study, researchers discovered that authentic assessment tasks that include
interactive orals help prevent academic misconduct: “The more relevant the
assessment to real-world scenarios, the less likely students are to engage in
misconduct.” The study goes on to say that “interactive oral exams enabled
students to develop their professional identity and awareness, and
communications skills, and help promote employability” (Sotiriadou et al., 2020).

In another study, a group of 18 students in New Zealand worked together to develop

focused community projects to affect sustainable change. Upon reflection, the students
themselves reported many benefits of authentic assessment including, “workplace
realism, a greater level of personal investment and opportunities to draw on
diverse skills” (Asgarova et al., 2023).

Authentic assessment is deeply tied to authentic learning, an approach to education

based deeply in constructivism, which theorizes that learners ought to take an active role
in building their own understanding rather than passively receiving information. When
a student can participate in activities that not only require their presence of mind and
involvement, but also connect to real-world scenarios, their learning then hinges on
concrete skills that they can readily apply to their lives.

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