Summatief

Summatief is a term used in education to describe summative assessment. This type of assessment evaluates what a learner has achieved at the end of an instructional period, such as a unit, semester, or course. The aim is to determine whether learning objectives have been met and to assign a final grade, mark, or credential based on the results.

Typical summatieve assessments include final exams, end-of-unit tests, capstone projects, portfolios, and standardized tests. They are usually high-stakes and scored against explicit criteria or standards. The results provide an overall measure of competence at a specific point in time and are often used for accountability, certification, or progression.

Summatief assessment contrasts with formatief assessment, which is formative in nature. Formative assessment involves ongoing activities designed to monitor progress, provide feedback, and guide instruction. While formative assessment supports learning, summatief assessment evaluates learning outcomes after instruction.

Effective summatief assessment relies on alignment with learning objectives, clear rubrics, and reliable scoring. Considerations of validity, fairness, and accessibility are important, as are issues related to test length, bias, and security. When well designed, summatieve assessments complement formative approaches by offering a clear, final evaluation of what students have learned.