Formative vs Summative Assessment
Formative assessment is in-progress feedback to improve learning; summative assessment is end-of-unit judgement to measure learning. Both are necessary; the balance matters.
The key difference
Formative assessment happens during learning — quick checks, exit tickets, observation, peer feedback — and informs what the teacher does next. Summative assessment happens at the end — a unit test, a project submission, an exam — and judges what has been learnt. A useful analogy: formative is the chef tasting the soup; summative is the diner reviewing it.
Why both matter
A classroom heavy on summative assessment but light on formative is a series of judgement events with no opportunity to improve in between. A classroom with strong formative practice catches misunderstandings early — when they can still be fixed cheaply.
Balance at Yajur
The Oxford International Curriculum at Yajur Public School weights formative assessment heavily in primary years. Term-end summative assessments contribute to a holistic report but do not dominate the experience. Continuous feedback is the engine of the classroom.
Related terms
Rubric Assessment
A grid that lays out what 'beginning', 'developing', 'proficient' and 'excellent' look like for each criterion — turning subjective judgement into transparent, consistent evaluation.
Portfolio Assessment
An approach where a child's progress is judged through a curated collection of their work over time — drafts, finished pieces, reflections — rather than a single test score.
Self-Assessment
A structured practice where students evaluate their own work against agreed criteria — strengthening metacognition, ownership of learning and self-direction.