---
title: Using Authentic Assessments in Elementary Classrooms | Kaplan Early Learning Company
description: Learn about authentic tasks and assessments and how you can use them in the classroom with this article from Kaplan Early Learning Company.
image: https://blog.kaplanco.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/using-authentic-assessments-elementary-classrooms_a-1.jpg
---

# Using Authentic Assessments in Elementary Classrooms

Staff WriterOctober 26, 2015[Assessment](https://blog.kaplanco.com/tag/assessment)2 minute read

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If you want to incorporate authentic assessments into your classroom, you have to create authentic tasks for students to complete. Authentic tasks are assignments designed to assess a student's ability to apply a standards-based skill to a real-world situation. For a task to be authentic, it has to have the four characteristics listed below.

## Four Characteristics of Authentic Tasks

1. Authentic tasks are performance based.
2. Authentic tasks have a real-life application.
3. Authentic tasks are constructive in nature (students are doing something).
4. Authentic tasks are student structured (students are given a choice).

## Tips on Using Authentic Tasks to Assess Students' Knowledge

- **Tip #1:** Student interest surveys and multiple intelligence surveys should be used early in the school year to collect data and the learning preferences of students.
- **Tip #2:** Choices should be presented to students in ways to perform the task. For example, if you ask students to demonstrate their understanding of a plant cell, students should be able to choose between creating a model, writing an essay, creating a play, etc.
- **Tip #3:** Clear rubrics and expectations should be designed yet remain open. If you're asking students to demonstrate their understanding of a plant cell, the required knowledge students are asked to display (parts of a plant cell, description of the functions of the parts of a plant cell, etc.) should be made clear. The authenticity comes in the way students choose to express their understanding.
- **Tip #4:** Create/choose an audience to bring authenticity to the task. Instead of having students just create a model, frame the task where they are making a model to be displayed in the school library for younger students to study. If students choose to create a play based on the plant cell, that play should be performed for an audience with a clear purpose. Authentic tasks are no longer authentic if students are not asked to apply their understanding in a real-world scenario.

Be sure to browse our [Elementary](https://blog.kaplanco.com/shop/elementary) section for a variety of tools, materials, and resources you can use to teach and assess students.

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