Ipsative assessment is a powerful new approach that provokes a radical rethink of the purposes and methods of assessment. This book presents a case for partially replacing competitive assessment with ipsative assessment, and it explores the possibilities and the challenges with research evidence and case studies.

This innovative book offers a new approach to assessment in which learners can follow their own learning journey using cumulative feedback or measurements of distance travelled from different starting points. Education currently mirrors the values and practices of a highly competitive world with testing, grading and monitoring of standards becoming its driving forces. Competition may stimulate high achievers, but may also demotivate or even damage the rest. Ipsative feedback (on progress) and personal learning gain measurements are often hidden. A range of global case studies from school and...