Which statement best differentiates formative assessment from summative assessment in EC-3?

Which statement best differentiates formative assessment from summative assessment in EC-3?

• A. Formative assessments occur at the end of a unit and summarize learning.
• B. Formative assessments are ongoing checks (exit tickets, quick checks); summative assessments are end-of-unit assessments or portfolios.
• C. Summative assessments are informal checks during instruction.
• D. Formative assessments measure only student attitudes toward learning.

Answer: (B)

Formative assessment is an ongoing process used during instruction to check understanding and guide next teaching steps. It happens throughout learning and includes quick checks like exit tickets or simple observations that let you adjust what you do next. Summative assessment, by contrast, happens after a learning period to determine what students have mastered, and it’s usually more formal—end-of-unit tests, projects, or portfolios used to report achievement. The statement that best differentiates them reflects this timing and purpose: formative assessments are ongoing checks (like exit tickets or quick checks) while summative assessments are end-of-unit assessments or portfolios. The other options mix up when the assessments occur or what they measure (for example, formative isn’t just at the end, summative isn’t informal during instruction, and formative isn’t about attitudes).

Formative assessment is an ongoing process used during instruction to check understanding and guide next teaching steps. It happens throughout learning and includes quick checks like exit tickets or simple observations that let you adjust what you do next. Summative assessment, by contrast, happens after a learning period to determine what students have mastered, and it’s usually more formal—end-of-unit tests, projects, or portfolios used to report achievement.

The statement that best differentiates them reflects this timing and purpose: formative assessments are ongoing checks (like exit tickets or quick checks) while summative assessments are end-of-unit assessments or portfolios. The other options mix up when the assessments occur or what they measure (for example, formative isn’t just at the end, summative isn’t informal during instruction, and formative isn’t about attitudes).