Formative assessment is day-to-day checking used to guide instruction. Summative assessment measures what students know at a point in time. Both are essential, but formative assessment is the engine that prevents surprises on summative moments.
Examples
- Formative: exit tickets, quick quizzes, think-pair-share, whiteboard checks.
- Summative: end-of-unit tests, final projects, standardized exams.
Why formative assessment matters
Frequent, low-stakes checks let teachers adjust pacing, reteach concepts, and personalize support. They make learning visible and reduce anxiety about big tests.
Practical formative strategies
- Use 3-question exit tickets focused on one learning goal.
- Do quick retrieval practice at the start of class (5 minutes).
- Give immediate, specific feedback (what to fix and how).
Designing summative assessments
Align your summative tasks with standards and the formative work students have practiced. Include rubrics and exemplars so expectations are clear.
Takeaway
Think of formative assessment as coaching and summative as the match. Coach well and students perform better when it matters.