Summative assessment is typically described as

• A. A tool used during instruction to plan changes
• B. A quiz or test used to evaluate learning after instruction
• C. An informal measure of classroom participation
• D. A diagnostic assessment used before starting a unit

Answer: (B)

Summative assessment is used to measure what students have learned at the end of a unit, course, or instructional period. It provides a final judgment of achievement and is often tied to grades or overall mastery. This distinguishes it from formative assessment, which occurs during instruction to guide teaching and make ongoing adjustments. It also differs from diagnostic assessments that are used before starting a unit to understand prior knowledge, and from informal measures of participation, which don’t aim to evaluate overall learning at the end. Examples include final exams, end-of-unit tests, and standardized end-of-term assessments.