Which statement correctly distinguishes formative from summative assessment?

Which statement correctly distinguishes formative from summative assessment?

• A. Formative assessment occurs only at the end of a course; summative during the course
• B. Formative assessment is always graded; summative is ungraded
• C. Formative assessment provides ongoing feedback during the process; summative evaluates learning at the end of a unit or program
• D. Formative assessment replaces final exams

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how feedback and evaluation are used over a learning period. Formative assessment happens during the learning process and provides ongoing feedback that students can use to adjust their study and teachers can adjust instruction. Summative assessment, by contrast, evaluates what a student has learned after instruction is complete, typically to determine a grade or level of mastery at the end of a unit or program. That distinction is captured by the statement: you get ongoing feedback during the process, and you assess learning at the end of a unit or program. For example, quick quizzes, draft submissions with instructor feedback, or in-class checks help shape the next steps. Final exams or end-of-unit projects then summarize what was learned overall. Other ideas are not as accurate: formative work isn’t defined by being graded, nor does it have to occur only at the end, and it doesn’t replace final exams.

The main idea here is how feedback and evaluation are used over a learning period. Formative assessment happens during the learning process and provides ongoing feedback that students can use to adjust their study and teachers can adjust instruction. Summative assessment, by contrast, evaluates what a student has learned after instruction is complete, typically to determine a grade or level of mastery at the end of a unit or program.

That distinction is captured by the statement: you get ongoing feedback during the process, and you assess learning at the end of a unit or program. For example, quick quizzes, draft submissions with instructor feedback, or in-class checks help shape the next steps. Final exams or end-of-unit projects then summarize what was learned overall.

Other ideas are not as accurate: formative work isn’t defined by being graded, nor does it have to occur only at the end, and it doesn’t replace final exams.