Do students perceive assessment differently? Exploring the diverse ways students conceive assessment and its impact on their assessment experiences and engagement

This study is part of a larger dissertation that examined the assessment culture within Ghana’s education system. This paper specifically investigates the diverse conceptions of assessment held by students and how these perceptions shape their learning-related behaviours and assessment experiences. In total, 405 junior high school (Grades 7–9) and senior high school (Grades 10–12) students responded to the Students’ Conceptions of Assessment Inventory (SCoA-VI). Second-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and latent profile analysis (LPA) were conducted to identify distinct patterns in students’ conceptions of assessment. To explore potential associations between students’ conceptions of assessment and their demographics, chi-square (crosstabulation) analyses were conducted. Three primary patterns emerged: mixed, improvement and negative conceptions of assessment. These three distinct conceptions, held by students within the same educational system, shaped their assessment experiences in different ways. Demographic factors, such as school division, class level and geographic location, significantly influenced these conceptions. Junior high students generally held more positive views than senior high students, who face high-stakes examination pressures. Urban students tended to have more positive conceptions of assessment than rural students. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.