[MengerSponge]

Well-structured exams are the single most effective teaching tool available. Assessment is a fringe benefit. I'm a strong advocate for "even more exams", where you take the highest score on particular topics.

There are variations, but if you're curious check out "Standards-based grading" or Mastery-based grading. It's in a weird and shitty limbo where a lot of primary and secondary schools have adopted it partially with inadequate training/support, and it's also getting fucked by our shitty publishing industry, same as the botched common-core rollout.