Summative Classroom Assessment

Summative assessments are designed to measure student understanding following a sustained

period of instruction with the focus on identifying the level of student mastery and the
effectiveness of instruction. As such, summative assessments are outcome measures that
emphasize student achievement rather than aptitude or effort.
Summative Assessments Provide:
Information concerning a student's mastery of specific course material
A basis for comparing student achievement to reference groups and/or external
performance criteria
A means of determining the effectiveness of instructional activities
b!ective information for assigning course grades
"omparative data to determine student placement
A means of holding teachers and schools accountable for student learning
"ontent#specific information to inform parents and future teachers
$iagnostic information about strengths and wea%nesses in student performance
$ata to determine achievement of departmental or curriculum performance standards
Advantages Disadvantages
&ecessary for determining
students' grades and placement
'endency for over#reliance on
summative measures
(romotes teacher and school
accountability
)ay promote cheating due to high
sta%es nature of assessment
(rovides a means of evaluating
instructional activities
*as been criticized for promoting
+teaching to the test+
,ncourages students' active
engagement with course material
$oes not provide information for
correcting errors
'est writing process-
.. planning the test / content blueprint 0learning outcomes, weight1 and length 0types and number of
items1
2. 3riting test items / simple and direct wording, avoid !argon, avoid trivia items, match items to
learning outcomes, each tem has an agreed upon correct answer, write more 4uestions than you
will need1
5. Selecting test items / outcome weight, 4uestions by type, 4uestions for each type of outcome
6. 7ormatting the test / group items by type, sort items by increasing difficulty, add instructions,
review layout and pagination, write answer %ey
8. Assessing the test
9. :evising the test
;. <sing the test
=. After the test / item analysis, areas for review, test revisions
Formative Assessment in the Classroom
7ormative assessments are ongoing, repetitive measures designed to provide information to both
the instructor and students concerning students' understanding of small segments of course
material. As an integrated approach to assessment and instruction, formative assessments
emphasize mastery of course material as opposed to evaluation of performance or assignment of
grades.
Formative Assessments Provide:
Insight on students' strengths and conceptual errors in relation to specific course concepts
>uidance to improve student understanding
A means of monitoring progress in learning
$iagnostic information concerning students' errors in understanding
A non#threatening environment to identify and correct problems in learning and
instruction
7eedbac% to the instructor concerning the effectiveness of instructional activities
Advantages Disadvantages
Allows for the identification of conceptual
errors )ay be difficult to motivate students'
performance on low sta%e assignment
(romotes active reflection on the effectiveness
of instruction
'ime consuming for instructor to provide
effective feedbac%
,ncourages feedbac% that enhances learning Intensive dedication re4uired to continue
ongoing assessment
?ow sta%e nature prevents motivation for
student cheating
)ay not be practical for large enrollment
classes