summative

Summative is an adjective describing something that serves to sum up or conclude. In educational and evaluative contexts, it refers to assessments or evaluations that measure learning, performance, or impact after a period of instruction or implementation, with results used to make judgments about achievement or worth.

In education, summative assessment is assessment of learning at the end of a unit or course, used to assign grades or certify achievement. It contrasts with formative assessment, which is ongoing and intended to improve learning during instruction. Examples include final exams, end-of-term projects, standardized tests, and capstone performances. Summative assessments often aim for a comprehensive evaluation of what a student has learned and may influence advancement and credentialing.

In program evaluation, summative evaluation assesses the overall effectiveness and impact of a program after implementation, often comparing outcomes to objectives and costs. It can inform decisions about continuation, scaling, or termination, and may include cost-effectiveness or impact analyses.

Key characteristics include being typically high stakes, scheduled at the end of an instructional period or program, broad in scope, and designed to measure achievement against standards or criteria. Reliability and validity are important; however, summative assessment may provide limited diagnostic information about how to improve learning.

Criticisms of summative approaches include a tendency to encourage teaching to the test, neglect of process and skill development, and potential stress for learners. Proponents argue that summative methods provide essential accountability, certification, and a clear measure of outcomes.