What distinguishes formative assessments from summative assessments?

Formative assessments are designed to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to enhance their learning. These assessments take place during the instructional process and are aimed at checking understanding, helping educators identify areas where students may be struggling and adjust their teaching strategies accordingly.

In contrast, summative assessments occur at the end of a course or instructional unit and serve the purpose of evaluating what students have learned over a specific period. They assess the cumulative knowledge and understanding of students and are often used for assigning grades or determining whether learning objectives have been met.

The distinction lies in the timing and intent of each assessment type. Formative assessments are continuous and formative in nature, focusing on fostering learning and improvement, while summative assessments are conclusive, evaluating accumulated learning at a defined endpoint. This fundamental difference is what clearly distinguishes the two assessment types.