Some of the disadvantages of performance assessments are that they are seen as difficult and costly to score and require a great amount of classroom time. Portfolios are one type of performance assessment that is becoming increasingly popular in schools. Portfolios, which contain samples of students' work, can be used to gather information about what students can do over a long period of time. A writing portfolio, for example, might include a series of story drafts, while a science portfolio might include a collection of lab reports. This approach allows students, teachers, and parents to analyze students' progress and see how their work has changed over time.
Portfolios can be difficult to score, but they contain a lot of important information.
Some states already have portfolio assessments in place to evaluate students' work in a subject over an entire year. Return to top . Computerized testing will enable students to take tests on more flexible schedules and receive scores immediately. Computer-adaptive testing changes the difficulty of the test to match the ability level of the student as the student is taking the test. Technology also has contributed to other changes.