Performance-Based Assessment Examples for K-12

Assessing What Students Can Do

Performance-based assessments ask students to demonstrate knowledge through a task rather than a test. Instead of answering questions about the scientific method, students design and conduct an experiment. Instead of identifying persuasive techniques, students write a persuasive speech.

Elementary Examples

Math: Real-World Problem Solving -- Give students a scenario: "Your class is planning a party with a budget of fifty dollars. Plan the food, decorations, and activities. Show your math work for all purchasing decisions." Students demonstrate addition, subtraction, multiplication, and budgeting skills.

ELA: Author Study Presentation -- After reading multiple books by one author, students create a presentation analyzing the author's style, themes, and craft. They include specific text evidence and explain what makes the author effective.

Science: Design Challenge -- Students design a solution to a problem (like keeping an ice cube from melting or building a structure that withstands wind). They follow the engineering design process and explain the science behind their design.

Middle School Examples

Math: Statistical Investigation -- Students design a survey, collect data, calculate statistics, create visualizations, and draw conclusions. The entire statistical process is the assessment.

ELA: Podcast Creation -- Students research a topic, write a script, record, and edit a podcast episode. This assesses research skills, writing, speaking, and technology use.

Social Studies: Historical Simulation -- Students participate in a simulation (Constitutional Convention, peace treaty negotiation) and write a reflection connecting their experience to historical events.

High School Examples

Science: Independent Research -- Students design and conduct an original experiment or research study. They write a formal paper and present findings. This is the culmination of all science process skills.

Math: Mathematical Modeling -- Present a complex real-world scenario. Students must decide what math applies, set up the problem, solve it, and evaluate whether their solution is reasonable.

ELA: Capstone Portfolio -- Students curate their best work from the year, write reflections on their growth, and present to an audience of peers, teachers, and community members.

Designing Effective Performance Assessments

Every performance assessment needs a clear rubric provided in advance. Use the AI rubric builder to create rubrics that assess both content knowledge and the quality of the performance.