Formative vs Summative Assessments

 Formative and summative assessments are two distinct types of assessments used in education to evaluate student learning. 

Here's an overview of the differences between formative and summative assessments:

Aspect	Formative Assessments	Summative Assessments
Timing	Administered during the learning process	Administered at the end of a unit, course, or instructional period
Feedback	Immediate feedback provided	Feedback is often given after completion
Purpose	Guide instruction and monitor progress	Measure overall achievement and mastery
Focus	Learning-oriented	Outcome-oriented
Informality	Often more informal and flexible	More formal and standardized
Stakes	Low-stakes or no grades attached	High-stakes assessments
Examples	Classroom discussions, quizzes, self-assessments	Final exams, end-of-unit tests, research papers, standardized tests