Assessment is closely linked to learning objectives, which are tied to the instructor's philosophy of teaching and learning, and to teaching style. The types of assessments selected should measure the stated learning objectives and be consistent with course activities and resources. Assessments, learning objectives, and learning activities should be clearly aligned. Assessment strategies should use established ways to measure effective learning and assess student progress by reference to stated learning objectives. The assessment formats should provide a reasonable way to measure the stated learning objectives.

Behavioral learning objectives are written with a clear objective way to measure each objective. Cognitive learning objectives call for more subjective assessment, and constructivist learning objectives are the hardest to assess.

Examples of objective/assessment alignment.

• The objective is to demonstrate critical thinking skills and the assessment is a problem analysis.
• The objective is to test vocabulary knowledge and the assessment is multiple choice test.
• The objective is to assess writing skills and the assessment is to write a composition.

Examples of inconsistency.

• The objective is to be able to "write a persuasive essay" but the assessment is a multiple choice test.
• The objective is to "demonstrate discipline-specific information literacy" and the assessment is a rubric-scored term paper, but students are not given any practice with information literacy skills on smaller assignments.