A good question can show more than a score.

Ask “How did you decide?”

After a correct answer, ask for one reason or one step. For reading, ask which words support the answer. For a practical task, ask what changed and what stayed the same. An explanation helps distinguish understanding from guessing.

Separate help from independent work

Working together is valuable. Keep a note when you read the question, modelled a step or helped write the answer. Later, try a related question with less help. The difference tells you what support is still useful.

Give one actionable piece of feedback

“Explain why you chose that number” is easier to act on than “Try harder”. Keep the next step small enough for the child to do. Praise a useful process—checking, explaining or correcting—without pretending every answer is right.

Compare like with like

A percentage on one activity does not mean the same thing as a percentage on a different subject or level. Compare similar work over time, and include practical and spoken explanations. Completion is a record of activity, not a national grade.

Use Asta’s parent view

Read drafts and submitted work, consult the marking guide and keep feedback in the learning history. If a learner retries a submitted task, the earlier attempt remains available for comparison.

Understand Asta’s assessment tools →