Formative vs. Summative Assessment

Question 1 (DOK 1): What is the primary purpose of formative assessments?

• To evaluate student performance at the end of a unit.
• To measure student knowledge and skills for college admissions.
• To assign grades and rank students.
• To provide feedback and monitor student learning progress during instruction.

Question 2 (DOK 2): Which of the following is an example of a formative assessment?

• Weekly quizzes used to guide teaching and provide feedback

• Final exam
• College entrance exam

• Year-end project graded for a final grade

Question 3 (DOK 2): Why are formative assessments important in the learning process?

• Formative assessments provide ongoing feedback to both students and teachers.
• Formative assessments are only important for teachers, not students.
• Formative assessments are only important for high-achieving students.
• Formative assessments are not important in the learning process.

Question 4 (DOK 3): Compare and contrast formative and summative assessments. Which statement below is correct?

• Formative assessments are only used in elementary schools, while summative assessments are used in high schools and colleges.
• Formative assessments are ongoing and informal, while summative assessments are final and formal.
• Formative assessments and summative assessments are the same thing.
• Formative assessments are final and formal, while summative assessments are ongoing and informal.

Question 5 (DOK 3): In what ways do formative assessments benefit both teachers and students? Select the correct answer.

• Formative assessments provide teachers with data to adjust instruction, and they help students track their progress and improve learning.

• Formative assessments are easy to grade, reducing the workload for teachers, and they help students prepare for final exams.

• Formative assessments are only beneficial for teachers, not for students.

• Formative assessments are primarily used for teacher evaluation, and students do not benefit significantly from them.

Question 6 (DOK 4): If you were an educator designing an assessment plan for a semester-long course, which type of assessment would you prioritize and why?

• summative assessments
• multiple-choice assessments
• self-assessments
• formative assessments