What is the difference between formative and summative assessment?

• A. Formative assessments occur only at the end of a unit.
• B. Formative assessments measure student performance on a single task.
• C. Formative and summative assessments are the same.
• D. Formative assessments are ongoing checks during instruction to adjust teaching; summative assessments evaluate student learning at the end of a unit or period.

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how formative and summative assessments differ in purpose and timing. Formative assessment is about ongoing checks during instruction to monitor progress and adjust teaching as you go. It provides immediate feedback to both you and the student, helping to shape the next steps in learning. Think of quick checks, class polls, exit tickets, or quick observations that show what students understand or struggle with, so you can adapt your instruction.

Summative assessment, on the other hand, evaluates what students have learned after a unit or period. It happens after most of the teaching is done and is used to judge overall achievement, often for grading or reporting purposes. Examples include final exams, end-of-unit tests, or culminating projects.

So the difference is when the assessment occurs and what it’s meant to do: formative is ongoing, supports learning during instruction; summative is at the end, summarizes learning. The other descriptions don’t capture that distinction.