What distinguishes a formative assessment from a summative assessment?

• A. Formative assessments replace grades; summative assessments do not.
• B. Formative assessments are only for math; summative are for all subjects.
• C. Formative assessments are ongoing and inform instruction; summative assessments evaluate learning at an endpoint to determine mastery.
• D. Formative assessments occur at the end of units; summative occurs during instruction.

Answer: (C)

Formative and summative assessments serve different purposes in the learning process. The key idea is that formative assessments are ongoing tools used during instruction to check understanding and guide teaching, while summative assessments occur at the end of a unit or course to determine whether students have achieved mastery.

Formative assessments provide feedback that helps both students and teachers adjust strategies, pace, and focus. Examples include quick checks for understanding, exit tickets, or short quizzes given throughout a unit. Summative assessments, on the other hand, measure what students have learned after instruction is complete, such as a unit test, final project, or end-of-term exam, to determine overall mastery.

The statement that best captures this distinction is the one that describes formative assessments as ongoing and informing instruction, with summative assessments evaluating learning at an endpoint to determine mastery.