When planning assessments, which of the following is most characteristic of summative assessments?

• A. Conducted after instruction to determine final mastery.
• B. Used regularly to guide daily teaching decisions.
• C. Administered as the first step to establish baseline.
• D. Provide quick feedback to students during tasks.

Answer: (A)

Summative assessment is about measuring what students have learned after instruction to determine final mastery and usually to assign a grade. It typically happens at the end of a unit, unit sequence, or course, when teaching has concluded and the goal is to assess overall achievement. This contrasts with formative assessment, which is used during instruction to provide ongoing feedback and guide teaching decisions. An initial diagnostic assessment, taken before or at the start, helps establish a starting point, not final mastery. Quick feedback during tasks is also a formative activity, focused on improving learning in real time rather than evaluating final outcomes.