Which of the following is an informal assessment method?

• A. Structured interviews
• B. Unstructured interviews
• C. Formal observations
• D. Standardized tests

Answer: (B)

Informal assessments are flexible, nonstandard ways to learn about a student’s thinking and needs. An unstructured interview fits this approach because it uses a conversational, spontaneous style with few or no predetermined questions and no formal scoring plan. This lets the teacher explore ideas, follow interesting threads, and gather nuanced information in real time.

In contrast, a structured interview follows fixed questions and a scoring rubric, which makes it formal and comparable across students. Formal observations rely on a planned method with specific criteria and checklists. Standardized tests are administered under uniform conditions with established norms and scoring procedures. Thus, the unstructured interview is the best example of an informal assessment method.