Ask Difference

Assessment vs. Review — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 17, 2023
Assessment evaluates or measures skills, knowledge, or attributes. Review examines or evaluates a subject or situation retrospectively.
Assessment vs. Review — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Assessment and Review

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Key Differences

Assessment is a process used to evaluate, measure, or judge the quality, value, or performance of something or someone. Review, in contrast, generally involves a retrospective analysis or evaluation of a subject, process, or situation.
Assessment often involves a predetermined set of criteria or benchmarks. For example, in education, students might undergo an assessment to gauge their understanding or proficiency in a subject. Review, on the other hand, may involve revisiting content, actions, or decisions to critique, analyze, or simply recall them.
In professional contexts, an assessment could be conducted to determine an employee's suitability for a role or a task. Meanwhile, a review, such as a performance review, would look back on an employee's past performance and actions, providing feedback and potentially guiding future decisions.
Assessment can be a broad or specific process, spanning from assessing an individual's health in a medical context to evaluating the sustainability of a project. Review, while also diverse in application, often focuses on revisiting and analyzing past events, actions, or content, like reviewing a book or film.
Lastly, while both assessment and review are evaluative in nature, assessment leans more towards measurement and quantification, often aiming for future improvement. In contrast, review leans towards reflection, feedback, and understanding of past occurrences.
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Comparison Chart

Primary Purpose

To evaluate or measure
To retrospectively examine or critique

Timing

Often during or before a process
Often after a process or event

Focus

Measurement, quantification
Reflection, feedback, understanding

Criteria

Often involves predetermined benchmarks
Can be more subjective and varied

Common Applications

Testing knowledge, gauging proficiency
Providing feedback, recalling past events

Compare with Definitions

Assessment

Evaluation based on specific criteria.
The teacher's assessment of the project was fair.

Review

A critical appraisal or evaluation.
The film received a positive review from critics.

Assessment

Estimation of the value or quality of something.
The assessment of the property came in higher than expected.

Review

A reconsideration or reexamination of a subject or situation.
The policy is under review by the committee.

Assessment

Judgment or opinion about something.
Her assessment of the situation was accurate.

Review

A recap or summary of events.
Let's do a quick review of today's meeting points.

Assessment

Determination of the importance or impact of something.
The environmental assessment indicated potential risks.

Review

An act of revisiting or studying material.
She did a review of her notes before the final exam.

Assessment

The act of assessing; appraisal.

Review

A review is an evaluation of a publication, service, or company such as a movie (a movie review), video game (video game review), musical composition (music review of a composition or recording), book (book review); a piece of hardware like a car, home appliance, or computer; or softwares such as business software, sales softwares; or an event or performance, such as a live music concert, play, musical theater show, dance show or art exhibition. In addition to a critical evaluation, the review's author may assign the work a rating to indicate its relative merit.

Assessment

An amount assessed, as for taxation.

Review

To look over, study, or examine again
Reviewed last week's lesson.

Assessment

The act of assessing or an amount (of tax, levy or duty etc) assessed.

Review

To consider retrospectively; look back on
Reviewed the day's events.

Assessment

An appraisal or evaluation.

Review

To examine with an eye to criticism or correction
Reviewed the research findings.

Assessment

The act of assessing; the act of determining an amount to be paid; as, an assessment of damages, or of taxes; an assessment of the members of a club.

Review

To write or give a critical report on (a new work or performance, for example).

Assessment

A valuation of property or profits of business, for the purpose of taxation; such valuation and an adjudging of the proper sum to be levied on the property; as, an assessment of property or an assessment on property.

Review

(Law) To evaluate (a decision made by or action taken by a lower court) to determine whether any error was made.

Assessment

The specific sum levied or assessed.

Review

To subject to a formal inspection, especially a military inspection.

Assessment

An apportionment of a subscription for stock into successive installments; also, one of these installments (in England termed a "call").

Review

To go over or restudy material
Reviewing for a final exam.

Assessment

The classification of someone or something with respect to its worth

Review

To write critical reviews, especially for a newspaper or magazine.

Assessment

An amount determined as payable;
The assessment for repairs outraged the club's membership

Review

A reexamination or reconsideration.

Assessment

The market value set on assets

Review

A retrospective view or survey.

Assessment

The act of judging or assessing a person or situation or event;
They criticized my judgment of the contestants

Review

A restudying of subject matter.

Assessment

Measurement of a person's ability or knowledge.
The assessment showed that he excelled in mathematics.

Review

An exercise for use in restudying material.

Review

A report or essay giving a critical estimate of a work or performance.

Review

A periodical devoted to articles and essays on current affairs, literature, or art.

Review

An inspection or examination for the purpose of evaluation.

Review

A formal military inspection.

Review

A formal military ceremony held in honor of a person or occasion.

Review

(Law) An evaluation conducted by a higher court of a decision made or action taken by a lower court to determine whether any error was made.

Review

A musical show consisting of often satirical skits, songs, and dances; a revue.

Review

A second or subsequent reading of a text or artifact in an attempt to gain new insights.
I need to make a review of the book before I can understand it.

Review

An account intended as a critical evaluation of a text or a piece of work.
The newspaper review was full of praise for the play.

Review

(legal) A judicial reassessment of a case or an event.
The victims demanded a full judicial review of the case.

Review

A stage show made up of topical sketches etc.
The Cambridge Footlights Review launched many Monty Python faces.

Review

A survey of the available items or material.
The magazine contained a review of Paris restaurants.

Review

A periodical which makes a survey of the arts or some other field.
The Times Literary Review is published in London.

Review

A military inspection or display for the benefit of superiors or VIPs.
The troops assembled for a review by the Queen.

Review

A forensic inspection to assess compliance with regulations or some code.
The regulators demanded a review against NYSE practices.

Review

To survey; to look broadly over.
Before I tackle the question directly, I must briefly review historical approaches to the problem.

Review

To write a critical evaluation of a new art work etc.; to write a review.
The critic reviews every new play in London.

Review

To look back over in order to correct or edit; to revise.

Review

To look over again (something previously written or learned), especially in preparation for an examination.

Review

(obsolete) To view or see again; to look back on.

Review

(obsolete) To retrace; to go over again.

Review

To view or see again; to look back on.

Review

To go over and examine critically or deliberately.

Review

To retrace; to go over again.
Shall I the long, laborious scene review?

Review

To look back; to make a review.

Review

A second or repeated view; a reëxamination; a retrospective survey; a looking over again; as, a review of one's studies; a review of life.

Review

An examination with a view to amendment or improvement; revision; as, an author's review of his works.

Review

A critical examination of a publication, with remarks; a criticism; a critique.

Review

A periodical containing critical essays upon matters of interest, as new productions in literature, art, etc.

Review

An inspection, as of troops under arms or of a naval force, by a high officer, for the purpose of ascertaining the state of discipline, equipments, etc.

Review

The judicial examination of the proceedings of a lower court by a higher.

Review

A lesson studied or recited for a second time.

Review

A new appraisal or evaluation

Review

An essay or article that gives a critical evaluation (as of a book or play)

Review

A subsequent examination of a patient for the purpose of monitoring earlier treatment

Review

(accounting) a service (less exhaustive than an audit) that provides some assurance to interested parties as to the reliability of financial data

Review

A variety show with topical sketches and songs and dancing and comedians

Review

A periodical that publishes critical essays on current affairs or literature or art

Review

A summary at the end that repeats the substance of a longer discussion

Review

(law) a judicial reexamination of the proceedings of a court (especially by an appellate court)

Review

Practice intended to polish performance or refresh the memory

Review

A formal or official examination;
The platoon stood ready for review
We had to wait for the inspection before we could use the elevator

Review

Look at again; examine again;
Let's review your situation

Review

Appraise critically;
She reviews books for the New York Times
Please critique this performance

Review

Hold a review (of troops)

Review

Refresh one's memory;
I reviewed the material before the test

Review

Look back upon (a period of time, sequence of events, etc.); remember;
She reviewed her achievements with pride

Review

A formal inspection or examination.
The troops stood in line for the annual review.

Common Curiosities

How often are performance reviews conducted in workplaces?

They're usually conducted annually, but frequency can vary.

Can assessments be subjective?

While they often have set criteria, assessments can still contain subjective elements.

Is a book critique an assessment or a review?

It is typically considered a review.

What's an example of a common assessment in schools?

Standardized tests are a typical form of assessment.

What's the aim of a movie review?

It's to provide a critique and analysis of the film's content and execution.

What is the primary purpose of an assessment?

It is to evaluate or measure skills, knowledge, or attributes.

Do both assessments and reviews require expertise?

Not always, but having expertise often enhances the quality and accuracy of both.

Which is more quantitative, an assessment or review?

Assessments often lean more quantitative, though both can have quantitative elements.

How does a review differ from an assessment?

A review involves a retrospective examination or critique, whereas an assessment focuses on evaluation or measurement.

Are assessments and reviews only done in professional settings?

No, they can be done in various contexts, from education to personal situations.

Is an assessment always formal?

No, assessments can be both formal and informal.

Can reviews be forward-looking?

Generally, reviews are retrospective, but they can offer recommendations for the future.

Is a recap of a sports game an assessment or review?

It is a review, summarizing the events of the game.

How is feedback incorporated in assessments and reviews?

In assessments, feedback can guide future improvement. In reviews, feedback often reflects on past performance or content.

Can reviews be completely objective?

While reviews can aim for objectivity, they often contain subjective elements or opinions.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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