What is peer assessment and what is it for? When the instructor asks the students to evaluate their colleagues’ work, certain criteria should be set to guide this evaluation. Peer evaluation or assessment is a powerful way to ensure the engagement of all students in providing feedback to their peers and, indirectly, to themselves.
When students are given the opportunity to be the assessors, they become highly motivated and encouraged to seek deep knowledge and build up better understanding. Peer assessment aids students to develop their judgment skills, critiquing abilities, and self-awareness. They learn to be more responsible while striving to figure out their points of strength and weakness. Peer assessment lifts the role and status of the students from passive learners to active leaners.

What are the advantages of peer assessment? There are many advantages for peer assessment. First, peer assessment pushes students to take responsibility and get involved in the learning process. Second, if used in group work, it enhances the groups’ members work and skills. Third, such assessment focuses on developing judging skills of students. Fourth, it provides new type of feedback where is it considered fair by many students due to their trust of other colleagues. Fifth, it pushes the evaluated student to take his work seriously as it is going to be evaluated by his peers.

What are the disadvantages of peer assessment? On the other hand, this method of assessment may