summatieve

Summatieve is a term used in education, commonly in Dutch, to describe summative assessment. It denotes methods for evaluating what a learner has achieved after an instructional period, such as a unit, term, course, or program. The main purpose is to make decisions about grades, progression, or certification, rather than to guide ongoing learning during instruction.

Typical forms include final exams, end-of-term tests, capstone projects, theses, standardized tests, and formal portfolios. These assessments are usually administered after instruction has concluded or after substantial content has been taught, and they are judged against predefined criteria or rubrics. They often carry high stakes for the learner and aim to provide a summary judgment of attainment.

Summatieve assessment is often contrasted with formative assessment, which aims to provide feedback to improve learning during the learning process. In practice, many education systems combine both approaches to support learning and accountability. They may be criterion-referenced, scoring against defined standards, or norm-referenced, scoring relative to a group. Alignment with clear learning outcomes and transparent criteria is important for reliability and fairness.

Critics argue that summative assessments can narrow instruction to test content, limit feedback, and place heavy emphasis on grades. Proponents contend they provide accountability, comparability, and a clear measure of achievement. Effective use involves valid and reliable measures, diverse evidence, and careful alignment with the intended learning outcomes.