Which assessment type emphasizes thinking and problem-solving skills for gifted learners?

The emphasis on thinking and problem-solving skills for gifted learners is most effectively captured by performance-based assessment. This type of assessment requires students to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts, engage in critical thinking, and demonstrate their abilities through active participation in tasks that reflect their understanding and skills. Unlike traditional standardized testing, which often focuses on rote memorization and fixed responses, performance-based assessments allow gifted learners to showcase their creativity, higher-order thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.

These assessments often involve projects, presentations, or practical tasks that require learners to analyze situations, hypothesize solutions, and implement their ideas, encouraging a deeper level of engagement and understanding. By focusing on applying skills and knowledge in meaningful ways, performance-based assessment provides a more accurate picture of a gifted learner's capabilities than assessments that rely heavily on standardized formats.

Other types of assessments, while they have their own strengths, do not inherently prioritize the same level of thinking and problem-solving skills as performance-based assessments do. For example, standardized testing tends to focus on comparative measures and may not capture the nuances of a gifted learner's potential, while diagnostic testing is more about identifying specific learning needs. Formative assessment, although beneficial for ongoing learning and feedback, typically assesses progress rather than the higher-level thinking