This may then lead to other decisions and action by the teacher, student, or parent. Formative evaluation is an ongoing classroom process that keeps students and educators informed of students' progress. The main purpose of formative evaluation is to improve instruction. This type of evaluation helps teachers understand the degree to which students are learning the course material and the extent to which their knowledge, understandings, skills, and attitudes are developing. Students are provided direction for future learning and are encouraged to take responsibility for their own progress.
Summative evaluation occurs most often at the end of the unit of study.
Its primary purpose is to determine what has been learned over a period of time, to summarize student progress, and to report on progress to students, parents, and educators. Seldom are evaluations strictly formative or summative. However, it is important that teachers make clear to students the purpose of assessments and whether they will later be used summatively. Diagnostic evaluation usually occurs at the beginning of the school year or before a unit of instruction. Teachers conduct all three types of evaluation during the course of the school year.