Formative and Summative Assessment
Two fundamental assessment types: ongoing checks for understanding vs. end-of-unit evaluations.
Formative Assessment
Formative assessment is assessment for learning — ongoing, low-stakes checks that inform instruction in real time. Examples include exit tickets, thumbs up/down, whiteboard responses, observation checklists, and quick writes.
The purpose is diagnostic: identify misconceptions and adjust teaching before the summative assessment.
Summative Assessment
Summative assessment is assessment of learning — evaluations at the end of a unit, semester, or course. Examples include final exams, standardized tests, research papers, and portfolio reviews.
Key Differences
Formative is low-stakes, frequent, and actionable. Summative is high-stakes, infrequent, and evaluative. Both are necessary: formative drives instruction; summative verifies mastery.
Best Practice
Use formative assessment results to differentiate instruction before the summative assessment. If 40% of students miss a concept on an exit ticket, reteach before moving on.