Critical evaluation is the process of assessing a situation or object in order to determine its strengths and weaknesses. It involves analyzing the information available and making an informed judgement. TEST, ASSAY, and acid TEST are all terms used to describe different types of critical evaluations. A TEST is a procedure used to measure a person's knowledge or ability. An ASSAY is a detailed examination of a substance or material to determine its composition or quality. An acid TEST is a TEST that uses acid to determine the purity of a metal or other substance.