# Diagnostic Assessment — Definition & Explanation

> From the SchoolBrowse Education Glossary.
> HTML version: https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary/diagnostic-assessment

**In short:** Assessment designed to identify specific learning gaps, strengths, and needs to guide targeted instruction.
**Diagnostic assessment** is evaluation designed to identify specific learning gaps, strengths, and needs. Unlike assessments that measure overall achievement, diagnostic tests pinpoint particular skills or concepts students have or have not mastered, guiding targeted instruction and intervention.

## When Diagnostics Are Used

Teachers use diagnostic assessments at the start of instruction, when students struggle, before intervention placement, and to understand why students aren't progressing. Results help educators target specific skills rather than reteaching broadly.

## Examples

Diagnostic tools include reading inventories that identify decoding vs. comprehension issues, math diagnostics pinpointing specific skill gaps, and special education evaluations identifying processing weaknesses.

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: What is diagnostic assessment?**

Diagnostic assessment identifies specific learning gaps and needs to guide targeted instruction, unlike general achievement tests.
**Q: How is diagnostic assessment different from benchmark assessment?**

Benchmarks measure overall progress; diagnostics identify specific skill gaps. Diagnostics provide more detailed information about what to teach.

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