Which type of assessment is typically conducted at the end of a learning period?

Summative assessment is designed to evaluate student learning at the conclusion of an instructional period. This type of assessment typically occurs after a unit of study or an academic term and serves to measure the extent to which students have mastered the learning objectives. Summative assessments often come in the form of final exams, end-of-unit projects, or standardized tests, providing a comprehensive overview of student understanding and achievement.

In early childhood education, summative assessments are particularly valuable as they can guide educators in determining whether students are ready to progress to the next stage of learning. These assessments inform stakeholders, including teachers and parents, about the effectiveness of the instructional methods used and help identify areas where further support may be needed for some students.

Formative assessment, in contrast, is used throughout the learning process to monitor student progress and inform instructional adjustments. Instructional assessment is a broader term that can encompass various strategies used to gauge student learning during instruction. Diagnostic assessment is intended to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses before instruction begins, making it fundamentally different from summative assessment.