What characterizes summative assessment?

Summative assessment is characterized by evaluating student achievement at the end of an instructional period. This type of assessment is designed to measure the extent to which students have learned the material that was taught during a specific unit or course, often utilizing tests, final projects, or presentations. The primary purpose of summative assessments is to determine if students meet the learning goals and objectives set forth at the beginning of the instructional period.

In contrast, feedback to improve teaching methods focuses on formative assessment, where information is gathered during the learning process to make adjustments and improve instruction. Gathering research data on student learning can relate to various assessment types but does not specifically define summative assessment, which is primarily about final outcomes. Ongoing observations of student behavior typically pertain to formative assessments as well, where the focus is on real-time data to inform continuous improvement rather than final evaluation. Therefore, the characteristic that clearly defines summative assessment is its role in evaluating student achievement at the conclusion of an instructional period.