Introduction.- 1. What is critical realism and how to understand assessment?.- 2. New forms of society: new forms of assessment?.- 3.Assessment for learning – motorway or dead end for improved learning outcomes?.- 4. Challenging the culture of formative assessment.- 5. Negotiating belief and habitus on assessment within institution.- 6. Developing assessment capital for excellence.- 7. Motivation, learning and assessment.- 8. Assessment and connoisseurship.- Conclusion.