summativno

Summativno is a term used in several South Slavic languages to refer to assessment or evaluation that takes place at the conclusion of a learning period. It corresponds to the English term "summative" and is commonly applied to describe assessments whose primary purpose is to judge the extent of learners' achievement and to assign a final grade or credential.

In educational practice, summativno assessments measure outcomes against predefined objectives, often at the end of a unit, course, or program. Examples include final exams, end-of-term tests, standardized tests, capstone projects, and end-of-course portfolios that are graded or certified.

Summativno is typically contrasted with formativno or formative assessment, which is ongoing and diagnostic, aimed at guiding instruction and improving learning during the process rather than at the end.

The use of summativno assessments supports accountability, standardization, and comparability of results, but can be criticized for focusing on summative outcomes rather than learning progress, potentially encouraging surface learning or teaching to the test.

See also: Formative assessment, Educational assessment, Academic achievement.