Types of Assessment: Formative vs Summative

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Aliza Hasnain

July 21, 20263 min read

Many people think of "assessment" as just taking a test, but it's more than that. There are two main types of assessment: summative assessment and formative assessment. Sometimes, these are called "assessment of learning" and "assessment for learning."

Both types are used in almost every classroom. The key to good assessment is understanding what each type does and using them best to help students learn.

Formative vs Summative Assessment

Assessment and its methods help teachers and students track progress toward learning goals and can be done in many ways.

Formative Assessments

Formative assessment is used during the learning process to identify areas where students struggle or have gaps in their knowledge. It helps the teacher and student determine how to improve and close those gaps.

This assessment type focuses on learning, not final grades, encouraging students to take charge of their learning. Formative assessments include self-assessments, peer assessments, quizzes, discussions, or written activities. The goal is to improve education as it happens, not just to grade the students.

Summative Assessments

On the other hand, summative assessment happens at the end of a lesson, unit, or course. It's used to measure how well students have learned and their success. Summative assessments are usually graded and are often considered more important, though they don't always have to be.

These assessments can be most effective when used alongside formative assessments, allowing teachers to see how students learn throughout the course and how much they have learned at the end, provided that the assessors follow the principles of assessment.

Learn more about formative and summative assessments in the assessment and teaching process. Our assessor and IQA courses, including the Level 3 CAVA Certificate and the Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice, offer a range of learning modules to help you become a trainer for renowned organisations.

Formative vs Summative Assessment: Key Differences

Here's a simple table comparing formative and summative assessments:

Feature	Formative Assessment	Summative Assessment
Timing	Ongoing, during the learning process	At the end of a lesson, unit, or course
Purpose	To monitor progress and improve learning	To evaluate overall learning or achievement
Focus	Identifies learning gaps and misconceptions	Measures final knowledge, skills, or proficiency
Feedback	Provides feedback to improve learning	Provides a final grade or evaluation
Examples	Quizzes, discussions, peer reviews, self-assessments, assignments	Final exams, end-of-term projects, standardised tests
Grading	Often not graded or lightly graded, it focuses on improvement	Usually graded and heavily weighted
Student Involvement	Encourages self-reflection and active participation	Focuses on the result, often a final judgment of the student's work
Effect on Learning	Helps students adjust and improve during learning	Reflects what students have learned at the end of instruction

Formative assessments are ongoing and aimed at improving learning, while summative assessments are final evaluations that measure overall achievement.