Assessment

What is formative assessment?

The purpose of formative assessment is to check immediate understanding, pinpoint misunderstanding and identify next learning steps. It often involves students receiving feedback on their learning. Formative assessment does not count for an award.

What is summative assessment?

The purpose of summative assessment is to check retention and integration of skills and understanding over longer term, sometimes this involves certification. Summative assessment can count towards an award.

What are the differences between formative and summative assessment?

The scope, purpose, marking and conditions of formative and summative assessment usually differ, though both assessment types may use similar tasks or questions, but in each case they must be valid for the content and learning assessed. The 'stakes' of the assessment decisions are usually lower for formative, so the environment and procedures differ. Summative assessment is sometimes, but not always, for certification purposes.