A Quick Guide to Formative and Summative Assessment
Get an overview of the key differences between formative and summative assessments, as well as examples of when each type of assessment is most appropriate.
Author Name
Author Affiliation or Title
Author Name
Author Affiliation or Title
Author Name
Author Affiliation or Title
Author Name
Author Affiliation or Title
Photo Credit: yurakrasil
Reliable, accurate, and student-centered assessments form the basis of effective instruction. While it’s easy to fall into a pattern of thinking of assessments as exclusively cumulative and formal, there are many ways to assess students throughout a course. Instructors can use a strategic combination of formative and summative assessments to measure learning outcomes, prepare students for success, and inform their own instruction.
In this quick guide, we delve into the nuances of formative and summative assessment — two evaluation approaches that hold significant implications for college professors aiming to optimize teaching and learning experiences. As you work to gauge student progress and adapt your teaching to an ever-changing educational landscape, knowing the differences between and use cases for these two approaches can be useful.
What do we mean by summative assessment?
Summative assessments are implemented at the conclusion of a learning cycle and are meant to evaluate the final product of teaching and learning.
Examples of Summative Assessments Include:
- Final exams
- Midterm exams
- Term papers
- Projects*
- Cumulative portfolios*
- Standardised tests
- Final Presentations*
*Can be assessed as formative at various points in the learning process
When Summative Assessments Are Appropriate: Use summative assessments to evaluate students’ final understanding and abilities at the conclusion of a learning cycle.
What are the key differences between formative and summative assessments?
To summarise, formative assessment and summative assessments differ in their primary objectives, timing, and the role they play in the learning process. Formative assessment aims to provide ongoing feedback to students during their learning journey, enabling them to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. It occurs throughout the learning process and is often informal, focusing on development and growth. In contrast, summative assessment usually occurs at the end of a learning period, such as a unit, course, or semester. Summative assessment can be more formal in nature and serves as a culmination of the learning experience, providing a snapshot of overall student understanding and performance.
| Formative Assessment | Summative Assessment |
|---|---|
| Occurs throughout the learning process | Occurs at the end of a unit, course, or semester |
| May be informal | May be formal |
| Focuses on development and growth | Provides a snapshot of student performance |
Deciding How to Assess Your Students
If you’re unsure which assessment approach is appropriate, it might be helpful to start by thinking about where you are in the scope and sequence of your unit/course. Here are a few ways that you can assess students whether you’re at the beginning, middle, or end of your course. Always keep in mind the intent of your assessment.
Beginning
- Use formative assessment to identify pre-existing knowledge, opinions, and interests
- To fully assess student understanding prior to the start of a new unit, a diagnostic assessment might be fitting
Middle
- To determine whether students grasp a concept thoroughly enough to move on, or consider a reteach lesson → Formative
- To gather information on student understanding, student interests, and student opinions to inform upcoming lessons → Formative
- To mark the conclusion of a significant portion of the course of study and assess final understanding (midterms, unit exams) → Summative
End
- To provide final guidance and support as students prepare for a conclusive project/exam/paper/etc. → Formative
- To mark the conclusion of a unit and assess final understanding → Summative
It is important to note that formative and summative assessments work in tandem with one another to create a powerful feedback loop for educators and students. The intent of formative assessments is to prepare students for success — often on summative assessments. It can be valuable to design formative assessments with the summative in mind and vice versa.
Tools like Achieve and iClicker are valuable resources to personalize assessment and interpret the results. These research-backed systems provide synchronous and asynchronous options to receive student feedback, whether through surveys, polls, videos, animations, and more. With personalised, honest formative assessments, instructors can then set their students up for success on a summative assessment.
Resources
Achieve -Macmillan Learning’s Digital Courseware Platform
Designed to foster engaged active learning in the classroom, Achieve complements your unique teaching style and course needs. Empower your students through enriching content, immersive assessment, and meaningful active learning experiences. Learn more about assessment in Achieve.
Section Five Header
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer condimentum euismod enim in rutrum. Integer ut neque est. In vehicula facilisis tellus, id dignissim nibh aliquet quis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Morbi cursus massa tellus, et pretium erat fermentum id. Curabitur ac erat sed lorem pharetra semper nec a massa. Quisque neque purus, aliquam vel varius blandit, suscipit et nisl. Phasellus faucibus hendrerit quam et venenatis. Vestibulum neque dolor, rhoncus dapibus placerat quis, accumsan cursus massa. Curabitur massa neque, sodales et interdum non, aliquet eu erat.
Maecenas imperdiet lorem vel orci accumsan tristique. Maecenas a molestie lacus. Pellentesque sit amet mauris luctus, consectetur neque quis, porttitor nisl. Pellentesque vel varius neque, sed mollis turpis. Pellentesque tortor neque, iaculis non euismod vel, venenatis ut nunc. Duis rutrum turpis lacinia turpis porttitor, ut faucibus lorem pharetra. Nullam fermentum, ligula sed commodo scelerisque, mi ipsum fermentum nisi, semper rhoncus odio ex ac purus. Aliquam ex nisl, pellentesque ac sapien luctus, venenatis dictum est. Phasellus sem justo, sagittis id elementum ut, suscipit sed risus. Fusce accumsan ex porttitor eros efficitur, ut dictum magna rhoncus. Aliquam at efficitur arcu. Nunc ut nunc placerat, feugiat ex a, accumsan purus.
Image Credit: Credit Here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Section Six Header
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer condimentum euismod enim in rutrum. Integer ut neque est. In vehicula facilisis tellus, id dignissim nibh aliquet quis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Morbi cursus massa tellus, et pretium erat fermentum id. Curabitur ac erat sed lorem pharetra semper nec a massa. Quisque neque purus, aliquam vel varius blandit, suscipit et nisl. Phasellus faucibus hendrerit quam et venenatis. Vestibulum neque dolor, rhoncus dapibus placerat quis, accumsan cursus massa. Curabitur massa neque, sodales et interdum non, aliquet eu erat.
Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Morbi cursus massa tellus, curabitur ac erat sed lorem pharetra semper nec a massa.
Maecenas imperdiet lorem vel orci accumsan tristique. Maecenas a molestie lacus. Pellentesque sit amet mauris luctus, consectetur neque quis, porttitor nisl. Pellentesque vel varius neque, sed mollis turpis. Pellentesque tortor neque, iaculis non euismod vel, venenatis ut nunc. Duis rutrum turpis lacinia turpis porttitor, ut faucibus lorem pharetra. Nullam fermentum, ligula sed commodo scelerisque, mi ipsum fermentum nisi, semper rhoncus odio ex ac purus. Aliquam ex nisl, pellentesque ac sapien luctus, venenatis dictum est. Phasellus sem justo, sagittis id elementum ut, suscipit sed risus. Fusce accumsan ex porttitor eros efficitur, ut dictum magna rhoncus. Aliquam at efficitur arcu. Nunc ut nunc placerat, feugiat ex a, accumsan purus.
Image Credit: Credit Here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Section Seven Header
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer condimentum euismod enim in rutrum. Integer ut neque est. In vehicula facilisis tellus, id dignissim nibh aliquet quis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Morbi cursus massa tellus, et pretium erat fermentum id. Curabitur ac erat sed lorem pharetra semper nec a massa. Quisque neque purus, aliquam vel varius blandit, suscipit et nisl. Phasellus faucibus hendrerit quam et venenatis. Vestibulum neque dolor, rhoncus dapibus placerat quis, accumsan cursus massa. Curabitur massa neque, sodales et interdum non, aliquet eu erat.
Maecenas imperdiet lorem vel orci accumsan tristique. Maecenas a molestie lacus. Pellentesque sit amet mauris luctus, consectetur neque quis, porttitor nisl. Pellentesque vel varius neque, sed mollis turpis. Pellentesque tortor neque, iaculis non euismod vel, venenatis ut nunc. Duis rutrum turpis lacinia turpis porttitor, ut faucibus lorem pharetra. Nullam fermentum, ligula sed commodo scelerisque, mi ipsum fermentum nisi, semper rhoncus odio ex ac purus. Aliquam ex nisl, pellentesque ac sapien luctus, venenatis dictum est. Phasellus sem justo, sagittis id elementum ut, suscipit sed risus. Fusce accumsan ex porttitor eros efficitur, ut dictum magna rhoncus. Aliquam at efficitur arcu. Nunc ut nunc placerat, feugiat ex a, accumsan purus.
Image Credit: Credit Here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Section Eight Header
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer condimentum euismod enim in rutrum. Integer ut neque est. In vehicula facilisis tellus, id dignissim nibh aliquet quis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Morbi cursus massa tellus, et pretium erat fermentum id. Curabitur ac erat sed lorem pharetra semper nec a massa. Quisque neque purus, aliquam vel varius blandit, suscipit et nisl. Phasellus faucibus hendrerit quam et venenatis. Vestibulum neque dolor, rhoncus dapibus placerat quis, accumsan cursus massa. Curabitur massa neque, sodales et interdum non, aliquet eu erat.
Maecenas imperdiet lorem vel orci accumsan tristique. Maecenas a molestie lacus. Pellentesque sit amet mauris luctus, consectetur neque quis, porttitor nisl. Pellentesque vel varius neque, sed mollis turpis. Pellentesque tortor neque, iaculis non euismod vel, venenatis ut nunc. Duis rutrum turpis lacinia turpis porttitor, ut faucibus lorem pharetra. Nullam fermentum, ligula sed commodo scelerisque, mi ipsum fermentum nisi, semper rhoncus odio ex ac purus. Aliquam ex nisl, pellentesque ac sapien luctus, venenatis dictum est. Phasellus sem justo, sagittis id elementum ut, suscipit sed risus. Fusce accumsan ex porttitor eros efficitur, ut dictum magna rhoncus. Aliquam at efficitur arcu. Nunc ut nunc placerat, feugiat ex a, accumsan purus.
Image Credit: Credit Here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Section Nine Header
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer condimentum euismod enim in rutrum. Integer ut neque est. In vehicula facilisis tellus, id dignissim nibh aliquet quis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Morbi cursus massa tellus, et pretium erat fermentum id. Curabitur ac erat sed lorem pharetra semper nec a massa. Quisque neque purus, aliquam vel varius blandit, suscipit et nisl. Phasellus faucibus hendrerit quam et venenatis. Vestibulum neque dolor, rhoncus dapibus placerat quis, accumsan cursus massa. Curabitur massa neque, sodales et interdum non, aliquet eu erat.
Maecenas imperdiet lorem vel orci accumsan tristique. Maecenas a molestie lacus. Pellentesque sit amet mauris luctus, consectetur neque quis, porttitor nisl. Pellentesque vel varius neque, sed mollis turpis. Pellentesque tortor neque, iaculis non euismod vel, venenatis ut nunc. Duis rutrum turpis lacinia turpis porttitor, ut faucibus lorem pharetra. Nullam fermentum, ligula sed commodo scelerisque, mi ipsum fermentum nisi, semper rhoncus odio ex ac purus. Aliquam ex nisl, pellentesque ac sapien luctus, venenatis dictum est. Phasellus sem justo, sagittis id elementum ut, suscipit sed risus. Fusce accumsan ex porttitor eros efficitur, ut dictum magna rhoncus. Aliquam at efficitur arcu. Nunc ut nunc placerat, feugiat ex a, accumsan purus.
Image Credit: Credit Here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Section Ten Header
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer condimentum euismod enim in rutrum. Integer ut neque est. In vehicula facilisis tellus, id dignissim nibh aliquet quis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Morbi cursus massa tellus, et pretium erat fermentum id. Curabitur ac erat sed lorem pharetra semper nec a massa. Quisque neque purus, aliquam vel varius blandit, suscipit et nisl. Phasellus faucibus hendrerit quam et venenatis. Vestibulum neque dolor, rhoncus dapibus placerat quis, accumsan cursus massa. Curabitur massa neque, sodales et interdum non, aliquet eu erat.
Maecenas imperdiet lorem vel orci accumsan tristique. Maecenas a molestie lacus. Pellentesque sit amet mauris luctus, consectetur neque quis, porttitor nisl. Pellentesque vel varius neque, sed mollis turpis. Pellentesque tortor neque, iaculis non euismod vel, venenatis ut nunc. Duis rutrum turpis lacinia turpis porttitor, ut faucibus lorem pharetra. Nullam fermentum, ligula sed commodo scelerisque, mi ipsum fermentum nisi, semper rhoncus odio ex ac purus. Aliquam ex nisl, pellentesque ac sapien luctus, venenatis dictum est. Phasellus sem justo, sagittis id elementum ut, suscipit sed risus. Fusce accumsan ex porttitor eros efficitur, ut dictum magna rhoncus. Aliquam at efficitur arcu. Nunc ut nunc placerat, feugiat ex a, accumsan purus.
Image Credit: Credit Here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Section Eleven Header
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer condimentum euismod enim in rutrum. Integer ut neque est. In vehicula facilisis tellus, id dignissim nibh aliquet quis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Morbi cursus massa tellus, et pretium erat fermentum id. Curabitur ac erat sed lorem pharetra semper nec a massa. Quisque neque purus, aliquam vel varius blandit, suscipit et nisl. Phasellus faucibus hendrerit quam et venenatis. Vestibulum neque dolor, rhoncus dapibus placerat quis, accumsan cursus massa. Curabitur massa neque, sodales et interdum non, aliquet eu erat.
Maecenas imperdiet lorem vel orci accumsan tristique. Maecenas a molestie lacus. Pellentesque sit amet mauris luctus, consectetur neque quis, porttitor nisl. Pellentesque vel varius neque, sed mollis turpis. Pellentesque tortor neque, iaculis non euismod vel, venenatis ut nunc. Duis rutrum turpis lacinia turpis porttitor, ut faucibus lorem pharetra. Nullam fermentum, ligula sed commodo scelerisque, mi ipsum fermentum nisi, semper rhoncus odio ex ac purus. Aliquam ex nisl, pellentesque ac sapien luctus, venenatis dictum est. Phasellus sem justo, sagittis id elementum ut, suscipit sed risus. Fusce accumsan ex porttitor eros efficitur, ut dictum magna rhoncus. Aliquam at efficitur arcu. Nunc ut nunc placerat, feugiat ex a, accumsan purus.
Image Credit: Credit Here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Section Twelve Header
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer condimentum euismod enim in rutrum. Integer ut neque est. In vehicula facilisis tellus, id dignissim nibh aliquet quis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Morbi cursus massa tellus, et pretium erat fermentum id. Curabitur ac erat sed lorem pharetra semper nec a massa. Quisque neque purus, aliquam vel varius blandit, suscipit et nisl. Phasellus faucibus hendrerit quam et venenatis. Vestibulum neque dolor, rhoncus dapibus placerat quis, accumsan cursus massa. Curabitur massa neque, sodales et interdum non, aliquet eu erat.
Maecenas imperdiet lorem vel orci accumsan tristique. Maecenas a molestie lacus. Pellentesque sit amet mauris luctus, consectetur neque quis, porttitor nisl. Pellentesque vel varius neque, sed mollis turpis. Pellentesque tortor neque, iaculis non euismod vel, venenatis ut nunc. Duis rutrum turpis lacinia turpis porttitor, ut faucibus lorem pharetra. Nullam fermentum, ligula sed commodo scelerisque, mi ipsum fermentum nisi, semper rhoncus odio ex ac purus. Aliquam ex nisl, pellentesque ac sapien luctus, venenatis dictum est. Phasellus sem justo, sagittis id elementum ut, suscipit sed risus. Fusce accumsan ex porttitor eros efficitur, ut dictum magna rhoncus. Aliquam at efficitur arcu. Nunc ut nunc placerat, feugiat ex a, accumsan purus.
Image Credit: Credit Here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.