assessment, especially a project, writing assignment or teacher created test, they want immediate feedback on how they did.  As a teacher, I try to grade and return these assignments as quickly as possible with comments to help my students.  If a paper is not returned in a timely manner, then it loses its relevance to the student. If the paper only had a grade on it, without comments, then how does the assessment help the child? Student Apathy There lies a major problem with the state assessment system.  The child receives the results months later, with only a score.  No feedback.  What did the student do well on?  What questions did she struggle with?  This is why by fifth grade many students become apathetic towards the state assessments.  Fifth graders have had two rounds of state assessment experience and see that the test has no relevance to their education.   Administrators and state officials have always asked why middle school state assessment scores dip compared to elementary scores, and then the scores rise again in high school.  Simple explanation: Middle school students realize the state assessments are meaningless, but in high school the Regents Exams count towards graduation. Does not improve instruction Surprisingly teachers are not provided with any quality information as well.  Last year at a grade level meeting we discussed the results of the state ELA assessment.  The type of question, basically the skill being measured, was outlined.  We found out the percentage of our students who were in