Analyse The Importance Of Summative Assessment

Assessment is the process used to gather information in order to develop an in-depth understanding of a student 's knowledge and a way to determine what they have learnt during a particular programme or course. Ann Gravells states that assessment is a way to ascertain if the learner has gained the required skills and knowledge needed towards their programme of learning. Assessment can also be used to determine any additional support needs a learner may have to ensure they are met efficiently. It is in the learners best interest that several types of assessment are carried out throughout their learning journey to ensure they are progressing and to help motivate them further. Four frequently used types of assessment are initial, diagnostic, …show more content…
It is used to assess what a learner already knows and helps to assist the teacher with creating individual learning plans. It also helps identify if a learner needs any help accessing support with their Maths, English or I.C.T skills. Summative assessment is usually a final assessment carried out at the end of a unit, term, or programme and is usually measured against set criteria. The outcome of a summative assessment is final and cannot be changed or improved upon in any way. It is a formal type of assessment such as final exams, portfolios, case studies and observations. Formative assessment, also known as assessment for learning is an informal type of assessment that is carried out regularly throughout the learning process to ensure the learner is on the right track. Some examples of formative assessment include quizzes, puzzles, observation and asking the learner direct questions. This type of assessment gives the teacher the opportunity to recognise a student 's level of understanding and enables them to give appropriate feedback in order to encourage progress and development as well as helping to motivate the learner.
“Assessment for learning is all about informing the learners of their progress to empower them to take the necessary action to improve their …show more content…
After giving a demonstration and explaining to my learners what needs to be done, I often observe them as they are carrying out the task to ensure that they have understood what I have said and to make sure they are carrying out the instructions correctly. It gives me the opportunity to step in if I see someone making a mistake. For example, I recently had a learner who had followed instructions and completed a pair of earrings, however, she hadn 't completely closed a link on one of the earrings meaning that the beads could have fallen off at any time. At the time I took the earring from her and closed the link myself whilst explaining to the learner what she had done and why the link needed to be