Differences between summative and formative assessment

Differences between Summative Assessment and Formative AssessmentTime After the learning process.. Strategy Assign students' grades to figure out if they can achieve the learning objecti

Differences between Summative Assessment and Formative Assessment

Time After the learning process During the learning process

Strategy Assign students' grades to

figure out if they can achieve the learning objectives

Track students' progress and monitor the learning process if necessary

achievements

Improve students' learning

The size of

evaluation's

packages

Includes complete chapters

or content areas

Includes little content areas

Explanation

Formative assessment

(1) Formative assessment provides evidence about students' learning which teachers gather by: observing, listening, questioning, discussing, and reviewing

their work in progress [explains for Time]

(2) Teachers can make immediate and intended changes to the sequence of

instruction [explains for Strategy]

(3) Teachers provide feedback to students to identify progress and gaps in learning (including individual support needs) Both parties then use the feedback to improve the learning The feedback includes information on:

 how the pupils are learning;

 their progress;

 the nature of their understanding; and

[explains for Purpose]

(4) Formative assessment gives students an active role in the assessment process Students work with the teacher to determine what is being learned and to identify

the next steps [explains for Size]

Summative assessment

(1) Summative assessment gives students, parents and teachers valuable information about a student's overall performance at a specific point in their learning It provides information about their progress in:

 subject knowledge;

 understanding; and

[explains for Time, Strategy and Size]

(2) A grade or percentage can indicate a student's rank in the class, year group or performance in a qualification such as a GCSE However, without additional information this grade is of little value in improving the student's learning and will

remain only a record of a point in time [explains for Result]

(3) The key to improving learning is for teachers to share with students what these grades or numbers mean in terms of what the student has demonstrated they can do and what the next steps to improve their learning will be Therefore, to be genuinely worthwhile, it is helpful to the student if summative assessments are also

interpreted formatively before moving on [Emphasis the Purpose of Summative assessment]