Formative and summative assessment: a quick guide for classroom teachers

Both types of assessment matter. They just answer different questions.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment happens during learning. It tells you and the learner what to do next. Examples include oral questions, observation, short quizzes, exit tickets and checking work in exercise books.

Summative assessment

Summative assessment happens at the end of a unit or term. It tells you what the learner has achieved so far, for example an end-of-term test or a project presented to the class.

Getting the balance right

• Use short formative checks in almost every lesson.
• Give feedback quickly while the topic is fresh.
• Use summative tasks sparingly and tie them to clear outcomes.
• Record results in a simple tracker so patterns are easy to see.

Follow your school and national assessment guidelines for how results are reported.