Assessment Overview
Tutors and learners are continuously engaged in the process of assessment, even though it may not be overt, planned or formal.
This overview will consider the types of assessment
- Initial Assessment
- Formative Assessment (Assessment for Learning)
- Summative Assessment (Assessment of Learning
Summative Assessment
Summative assessment is used to assess learner’s achievement at
the end of a course or topic. It should
relate directly to the learning aims and objectives. It provides a summary picture of what the
learner has learnt during the course.
Some aspects of summative assessment use formal methods of assessment
(tests/exams) but this is not always the case, especially with adult community learning.
Summative assessment can be used to:
- enable learners to recognise their achievements
- justify awarding a qualification
- help the tutor plan future courses
- guide learners through their next steps
There are a variety of methods for conducting summative
assessment, and not all of these are formal written assessments
- Digital assets (video, audio, website)
- Portfolios
- Observation of practical task
- End product e.g. something the learner has made using new skills
- Discussion with learner
- Written unseen exams
- Multiple choice question (MCQ) exams
- Open book exams
- Seen exams
- Essay submissions
- Dissertations
