This particular student may be able to tell you the entire history of the Civil War if asked, but still fails when asked to write an essay about the event. In my opinion, it is not. If you plan to test students using a timeline format, then it is extremely important that you present the information to them using a timeline. Our students need to know what to expect from us. Therefore, we take drivers ed and learn all about the rules for our state, and we practice driving a car.
Assessment can be quite intimidating for teachers and it is a constant challenge for ALL teachers.
Even experienced teachers have to continually check their assessment techniques to make sure that they are still an effective measurement of student progress and knowledge. Take the time when planning your lessons to think about how you plan to check student learning. Jot it down in your plans so that you can remember to let your students know what to expect in terms of the format. In the end this helps both you and your students forego unnecessary frustration.