MTTC 103 Elementary Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Guide for Comprehensive Exam Success

Summative assessment is used after a learning period to evaluate overall student learning and to determine what students have learned and how well they have met the learning objectives. This type of assessment is typically conducted at the end of an instructional unit, semester, or school year and is designed to measure student mastery of content. Examples include final exams, standardized tests, and cumulative projects. The results of summative assessments can inform decisions regarding curriculum effectiveness and guide future instruction, particularly in evaluating whether learning goals have been achieved.

In contrast, diagnostic assessments are administered before instruction to identify students' existing knowledge and skill levels, formative assessments are conducted during the learning process to monitor student progress and provide ongoing feedback, and informal assessments are less structured and often observational, focusing on the learning process rather than measured outcomes.