Formative vs. Summative Assessments: What's the Difference?

Assessment is the main core of learning and teaching in the United Kingdom. It shapes the students' progress, their teaching and also how the universities showcase the accountability. So the two terms, formative and summative assessment, are mostly misunderstood or used identically.  In this blog, you are going to understand the difference between formative and summative assessment. It also makes their purpose clear and gives practical examples for the UK learners, educators, and policy-makers.

What is Assessment? A UK Perspective

Assessment is bigger than easily giving the test. In the UK, assessment surrounds any activity that helps teachers and students understand progress and achievement. Two main types control educational system: formative assessment (assessment for learning) and summative assessment (assessment of learning). They both are important, but each has its own different use from the other.

What is Formative Assessment?

Formative assessment is an ongoing process which takes place during teaching and learning. Its main purpose is to check student progress and recognise their strengths and weaknesses. Also, they provide them feedback that helps both teachers and students keep their approaches for better learning outcomes.

Key Features of Formative Assessment

Regular: Happens not only at the end but also during the course.

Diagnostic: Understand what students know, need to learn, and any misunderstandings.

Feedback-Focused: Give quick, actionable feedback to better learning.

Not Graded: Typically does not give to final marks or grades.

Adaptive: Informs teachers about the success of their teaching and make sure for quick correction.

Why is Formative Assessment Important?

Formative assessment is important for many reasons:

It helps students understand their learning goals and how to get them.

Support active learning and self-reflection.

Lower anxiety by providing “low-stakes” chances to give before important assessments.

Make sure teachers follow instructions to meet students’ needs.

Formative Assessment Examples

In-class quizzes (not graded)

Group discussions and debates

Peer and self-assessment activities

Homework assignments with detailed feedback

Observational notes by teachers

1-minute reflection writing assignments

Clicker questions or instant polls

Concept mapping and brainstorming sessions

What is Summative Assessment?

Summative assessment happens at the end of the period of learning. For example end of a module, term, or academic year. It is outlined to appraise what students have learned relative to stated learning objectives or national standards.

Key Features of Summative Assessment

Final: Takes place at the end of an educational period

Evaluative: Counts achievement, Skills, or ability.

Graded: Results are given in final marks or qualifications.

Formal: Mostly structured, standardised, and used for reporting to stakeholders.

Accountability: Used for outside responsibility, development, and certification.

Why is Summative Assessment Important?

Summative assessment is important for the following reasons:

Correct results and progression, like going to the next year or graduating.

Providing them the data for outside responsibility. Like Ofsted, league tables.

It informs about student and school performance to the parents, governors, and policy-makers 

Motivating students to unite and showcase their learning.

Summative Assessment Examples

Final exams and controlled assessments like GCSEs, A-levels, SATs.

Dissertations

Coursework assignments submitted for grading

Final presentations or performances

Portfolios assessed for final marks

Reports and essays submitted at the end of a module

Formative vs Summative Assessment: A Direct Comparison

Understanding formative vs summative assessment is important for better teaching and learning. Here’s a side-by-side look at their main differences:

Feature	Formative Assessment	Summative Assessment
Purpose	Improve learning and instruction	Rate ability and certify achievement
Timing	Throughout the course	At the end of a course, unit, or key stage
Feedback	Quick, actionable, to help learning	After assessment, Mostly not directly used for learning
Grading	Not graded	Graded; give to final marks
Examples	Quizzes, discussions, homework with feedback, peer review	Final exams, standardised tests, dissertations, final projects
Stakeholders	Students, teachers	Students, teachers, parents, policy-makers
Data Use	Guides teaching and learning adjustments	Informs progression, accountability, and certification

Formative assessment is assessment for learning, and we can see that summative assessment is assessment of learning.

Also read: How to Write a Literature Review

The Difference Between Formative and Summative Assessment

The difference between formative and summative assessment is not just about the timing but they are different in their purpose, process and have their different impact.

Formative assessment is created to help improve learning. It’s dynamic, flexible, and focused on feedback and growth.

Summative assessment is created to calculate what you have learned. It’s static, formal, and focused on reporting and accountability.

As they both are important, heavily depending on the summative assessment can lead to “teaching to the test” and abandoning helping students' needs. On the opposite side, formative assessment without summative measures may not help to provide accountability and certification required by the UK education system.

Can Formative and Summative Assessment Work Together?

Yes, the highly beneficial educational programmes in the UK combine both approaches. Let’s understand with an example:

Teachers can be used for the formative quizzes and feedback throughout a module to guide learning. It is used as a summative exam at the end to certify achievement.

Data from summative assessments (like GCSE results) can be analysed to inform future teaching. It make even summative assessments have formative value.

When it is most important, this unity makes sure that students are supported when they and fairly rated. 

Formative and Summative Assessment Examples in UK Education

Formative Assessment Examples

In-Class Quizzes: Short, ungraded quizzes to check the knowledge about topic.

Peer Assessment: Students review each other’s work and give helpful feedback.

Class Discussions: Teachers ask examination questions to measure grip.

Homework with Feedback: Assignments marked with comments, not grades, anf help them for improvement.

Self-Assessment Checklists: Students showcase on their own progress and set learning goals.

Observational Notes: During activities, Teachers keep observations about participation and skills.

Summative Assessment Examples

GCSEs and A-levels: National regulated tests at the end of key stages.

End-of-Year Exams: complete tests covering all material learned.

Final Projects or Dissertations: Build up to assignments showcasing a combination of skills.

Portfolios: Collection of work assessed for a final grade.

Formal Presentations: Assessed performances or talks at the end of a module.

SATs: Standardised Assessment Tests for primary school pupils.

Challenges and Best Application in Assessment

Common Challenges

Overdraw on Summative Assessment: Can lead to teaching to the test and increased student anxiety.

Limited Formative Feedback: Students may not know how to improve before high-stakes assessments.

Timing of Feedback: Summative feedback mostly arrives too late to be useful for current learning.

Assessment Literacy: Both students and teachers need training to understand and use assessment in a better way.

Best Application

Mixed Both Approaches: Use formative assessments to guide learning and summative assessments to verify success in the work.

Timely Feedback: Make sure feedback is quick and useful. Mainly for formative tasks.

Practice Opportunities: Provide low-stakes formative assessments to build confidence and skills before summative tasks.

Peer and Self-Assessment: Engage students actively in the assessment process to bring up ownership and thought.

Data-Informed Teaching: Use results from both assessment types to adapt teaching and support all learners.

Formative vs Summative Assessment: Impact on UK Learners

For Students

Formative assessment builds confidence, explains learning goals, and lowers anxiety.

On the other hand, Summative assessment motivates revision, presents achievement, and opens doors for progression.

For Teachers

Formative assessment provides actual insights and helps in targeted support.

On the other hand, Summative assessment provides data for reporting, accountability, and curriculum planning.

For Schools and Universities

Formative assessment helps in continuous improvement and realisation.

Summative assessment make sure standards, similarity, and outside verification.

 

Conclusion: Making Assessment Work for All

Understanding about formative and summative assessment and the difference between formative and summative assessment is important for better teaching and learning in the UK. By accepting both methods, educators can help every student in their studies. It makes sure that learning is not just measured, but nurtured and celebrated. Whether you’re a teacher creating a new scheme of work, a student preparing for exams, or a parent helping your child. It also helps to recognise the different roles of formative vs summative assessment will help you make the most of every learning chance.

 

FAQs

Q. What is the difference between summative and formative?

Summative assessment is more good and assesses the final product. On the other hand, formative assessment focuses on the process toward completing the product. When the project is completed, no more revision can be made.

Q. Is summative or formative for marks?

Formative assessments are low- or no-stakes (eg. few or no marks assigned) tools to assess how a student is learning in a course, while summative assessments are typically high-stakes assignments that assess what a student has learned in a course. This is also referred to as assessment for learning.

Q. What is the difference between formative and summative points?

If formative assessment measures how a student is learning during a course of study, so on the other hand summative assessment is designed to measure “how much” a student has learned after a unit or course has reached its completion.

Q. What is an example of a formative and summative assessment?

Formative assessments include exit tickets, mini-whiteboards, self- and peer-assessments. Some examples of summative assessments include projects at end of unit, essays, exams, and tests. They also include standardized assessments like SAT, GCSE, and A levels.