Planning and Assessment
From goals to measurable plans
Planning begins with a clear goal statement, then works backward to objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Assessment supplies the baseline: without a defensible measure of current status, a plan cannot show progress. Candidates must know the difference between formative assessment (ongoing, used to adjust the plan) and summative assessment (endpoint, used to judge outcome).
Choosing the right instrument
Instrument selection turns on validity (does it measure the intended construct?), reliability (is it consistent?), sensitivity to change (can it detect meaningful movement?), and practicality (time, cost, burden). A common trap is choosing the most prestigious instrument when a shorter, validated tool fits the question being asked. Another is conflating screening with diagnosis.
Sequencing and risk
Good plans sequence steps by dependency and risk: address urgent safety issues first, then foundational needs, then optimisation. Questions often present a plan with correct content in the wrong order.
Rule of thumb
Use the fit-for-purpose test: the best assessment is the one whose validity, reliability, and burden match the decision it must inform - not the most comprehensive one available.
Worked example
A plan proposes a full-length assessment battery before any interim review. The flaw is sequencing: an interim formative check should come first so the plan can be adjusted before committing resources.