Formative and summative assessment: what each is for

"Assessment" covers two quite different purposes, and confusing them causes much frustration.

Summative assessment sums up what a student has learned at the end of a period, through exams, final projects or graded assignments. It is used to certify, rank or report. Its output is usually a grade.

Formative assessment is used during learning to find out what a student understands and what they find difficult, so that teaching and study can be adjusted. It includes quizzes without grades, questions in class, feedback on drafts and conversations. Its output is information and next steps, not a mark.

Why the distinction matters: when every task is graded, students tend to hide what they do not understand, and teachers lose a chance to help. Research reviews on feedback suggest that formative practices, used well, can improve learning, though quality varies widely.

Limits: the same task can serve both purposes, and poorly designed formative checks can become a burden.

A useful question for any school: what share of assessments exist to help learning, and what share exist to judge it?