Summative vs Formative Assessment

Assessment "for" learning

• Formative
• Summative

Student-teacher conference about a first draft.

• Formative
• Summative

Product-oriented and assesses the final product

• Formative
• Summative

Informal checks for understanding.

• Formative
• Summative

Usually given at the end of a unit or an extended time period

• Formative
• Summative

Used by the teacher to make adjustments to instruction during a unit

• Formative
• Summative

Usually "high stakes" such as a midterm exam, final project, recital, STAAR test

• Formative
• Summative

Assessment "of" learning

• Formative
• Summative

Focuses on the process toward completing the product

• Formative
• Summative

Focuses on improvement and progress towards a learning goals.

• Formative

• Summative