How does formative assessment differ from summative assessment?

Formative assessment is an integral part of the learning process that occurs continuously throughout a course. Its primary purpose is to provide ongoing feedback to both learners and instructors, allowing for adjustments to be made in teaching and learning strategies. This feedback helps identify areas where students may be struggling and enables targeted interventions to improve understanding and performance before the course concludes.

In contrast, summative assessment focuses on evaluating students' overall performance at the end of an instructional period, such as a unit or a full course. It aims to measure what students have learned after instruction is complete, often culminating in a final exam or project that assesses cumulative knowledge.

This distinction is crucial, as formative assessments are designed to be diagnostic and support the learning process, whereas summative assessments measure achievement against a set standard at a single point in time. Understanding this difference can greatly enhance teaching strategies and student success.