What is the difference between Formative and Summative Assessment?

• A. Formative assesses the learning process, Summative assesses the products
• B. Formative is at the end, Summative is during learning
• C. Formative focuses on products, Summative focuses on progress
• D. Formative includes tests, Summative includes quizzes

Answer: (A)

Formative assessment primarily focuses on monitoring student learning to provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to improve their learning. It typically occurs during the instructional process and aims to help learners understand and enhance their skills and knowledge in real-time. This type of assessment allows educators to identify areas of difficulty and adjust instruction accordingly.

On the other hand, summative assessment evaluates student learning at the conclusion of an instructional unit by comparing it against some standard or benchmark. This type of assessment measures what students have learned after the instruction has taken place and often results in a final product, such as a project or exam.

The distinction between these two types of assessments is thus recognized in option A, which accurately captures their roles: formative assessment focuses on the learning process, allowing for ongoing adjustments, while summative assessment evaluates the end results of that learning.