How does formative assessment differ from summative assessment?

Formative assessment is primarily designed to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that can be used by educators to improve their teaching and by students to enhance their learning. This type of assessment takes place during the instructional process, allowing teachers to identify students' strengths and weaknesses in real-time. The objective is to inform and adapt teaching strategies to meet students' needs, fostering a growth mindset and continuous improvement.

In contrast, summative assessments typically occur at the end of an instructional unit or course and are used to evaluate overall student learning against certain benchmarks. While both types of assessment are valuable, the formative approach is distinctly focused on ongoing learning and development rather than solely on the final outcomes.