At the end of a course, there is usually a final exam that determines the student's grade. Extrinsically motivated students in particular tend to start revising their notes at the last minute and focus exclusively on the material relevant to the exam. However, this type of exam revision does not lead to a long-term study effect, as the course material is not repeated properly and will be forgotten shortly after the exam.

One way to avoid this short-term study effect is to test the level of knowledge during the entire learning process. In addition to the final exam at the end of the course, teachers can carry out small ungraded tests during the semester, which provide feedback to students and teachers about the learning progress. Based on the results of the test, the entire teaching/learning process can be adapted to the specific needs. In addition, formative assessments challenge students to revise the course content throughout the entire semester and not just right before the exam period.

Formative assessments, such as quizzes and excercises can be organized in ILIAS.