To choose between formative and summative assessment, start with one question:
Are you helping students practice and improve, or are you evaluating what they’ve learned?
Most courses benefit from a thoughtful combination of both. Depending on your course format and learning goals, you may lean more heavily on one type or carefully balance both.
What’s the difference?
Formative assessment
- What does it do? Supports learning in progress. It gives you and your students insight into what they’ve learned so far and where adjustments might be needed.
- When to use it? Throughout the course
- Why it matters? Helps you identify gaps and improve learning before final evaluation
- How it works? Uses targeted activities that give students opportunities to test their knowledge
Example
- Discussions
- Poll questions or surveys
- Short quizzes or knowledge checks
- Outlines or drafts
- Written reflections
- Low-stakes homework
Summative assessment
- What does it do? Evaluates student performance at a specific point in time. Traditionally, these points in time are midterm and end of term.
- When to use it? At the end of an instructional period
- Why it matters? Provides evidence of student knowledge, skills, or proficiency
- How it works? Uses cumulative or final products to measure achievement
Example
- Exams
- Projects (individual or group)
- Essays
- Presentations
- Reports
- Portfolios
How to apply this in your course
If you are already using one or two major summative assessments, consider building in one or two formative checkpoints 1-2 weeks before a major due date. Formative assessments give students a chance to practice, receive feedback, and refine their work.
You can do this by:
- Breaking a large assignment into smaller components
- Adding draft submissions or progress check-ins
- Using quick knowledge checks before major deadlines
Example
Instead of:
Assigning a single final project
Try this:
Ask students to submit a proposal, provide a draft for peer review, and submit revised drafts to you before the final assignment is due.
Each step creates an opportunity for feedback and improvement.
Depending on your course design, you might emphasize one more than the other but using a combination of both creates a strong learner experience. Relying only on summative assessment can limit opportunities for students to improve before being graded. Formative assessment helps you and your students make adjustments much earlier, leading to strong student performance and final outcomes.
By aligning your assessments with your course goals, you create more opportunities for students to learn, improve, and demonstrate what they know.
