Performance tests are used to evaluate a student's ability to apply the material learned. These tests are most often used in conjunction with laboratory work. These tests are used to determine the student's grade based on what the student has learned. Quizzes are short tests given during the semester to measure the learning of a small amount of material. Some announce them in advance, and some do not.
Exams take a number of different forms with the categories of subjective and objective.
Subjective examinations usually require essay type of responses. This evaluation measures the student's ability to organize course information, relate it to the problem posed in the question, and formulate an answer in the student's words. Subjective exams require a high degree of comprehension and interpretation as well as application by the student. Take-home tests allow the student to work on the answers outside of class. Open-book tests allow the student to use reference texts in class.