What is the purpose of a summative assessment?

The purpose of a summative assessment is to judge mastery of curriculum objectives after instruction. Summative assessments are typically conducted at the end of a unit, course, or specific instructional period to determine whether students have acquired the knowledge and skills that were intended to be taught. This type of assessment is crucial for measuring overall student learning and informing decisions regarding instructional effectiveness, student grading, and curriculum planning.

In contrast, options focusing on evaluating engagement strategies, assessing preparation for upcoming lessons, or providing formative feedback during the learning process represent different aspects of assessment practices that are not the primary aim of summative evaluations. While each of those practices has its own value in the educational context, their purposes are more aligned with ongoing development and immediate instructional adjustments rather than the final evaluation of student learning outcomes.