Formal, Informal, and Summative Assesment

The goal of summative assessment is . . .

• to evaluate student learning at the beginning of the unit.

• to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit.

• to evaluate teacher progress at the end of the lesson.

• to evaluate teacher and student progress.

What is an example of a summative assessment?

• Interviews

• Essays

• Diagnostic test

• End-of-term or midterm exams

Formal assessments produce results that have a significant effect on a learner's progress.

• True

• False

Are quizzes, exams, and standardized tests are all examples of formal assessments?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Formal assessment uses formal tests or structured continuous assessment to evaluate a learner's level of language.

What Is Informal Assessment?

• In this type of assessment, standardized methods of testing are used.

• It is a method where teachers do not evaluate student performances on some grade.

• It used a formal grading method, allowing teachers to check students' performance in detail.

• These assessments are systematic, pre-planned tests that assess student learning of a unit or major concept.

Informal assessment methods don't help the instructor monitor the learner’s progress throughout the learning period.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

It presents a more accurate picture of a learner’s abilities.

With informal assessments, instructors can observe students’ progress as they go from one stage to the next.

• Yes

• No

Answer explanation

This provides a holistic background for grading knowledge instead of one-off tests.