What is the primary difference between formative assessment and summative assessment, and how should each be used to support learning?

• A. Formative assessment provides ongoing feedback during instruction to adjust teaching; summative assessment evaluates learning at the end of a unit to determine achievement against standards.
• B. Formative assessment occurs at the end of a unit; summative assessment provides ongoing feedback during instruction.
• C. Formative assessment screens learners before instruction; summative determines learning mid-unit.
• D. Formative assessment is used for grades; summative is diagnostic.

Answer: (A)

The main distinction is when and how the feedback is used to support learning. Formative assessment happens during instruction. It’s designed to check understanding in real time, provide feedback to students, and let teachers adjust teaching if misconceptions or gaps appear. The goal is to improve learning as it’s happening, with strategies like quick checks, exit tickets, or short observations guiding what to reteach or scaffold next.

Summative assessment happens after learning is completed. It evaluates what students have achieved against the standards or objectives, often for reporting or certification purposes. It’s a snapshot of learning at the end, not a tool for guiding ongoing instruction in the moment.

In practice, use formative assessment to inform and adapt teaching and to help students move forward with feedback they can act on right away. Use summative assessment to determine overall mastery and to guide future planning or program decisions based on demonstrated outcomes.

Why the other options don’t fit: formative feedback at the end or mid-unit, or using formative for grades while calling summative diagnostic, misplaces timing, purpose, and how these assessments support learning.