Formative assessment is a process used by educators to gauge students' understanding and progress throughout a unit or lesson. This type of assessment is used to provide feedback to both teachers and students, helping to identify areas of strength and areas that may need improvement. It is typically more informal and ongoing than summative assessment, which is given at the end of a unit or course.

Formative assessment can take many different forms, including quizzes, discussions, observations, and self-assessments. The goal of formative assessment is to provide teachers with valuable information about their students' learning so that they can adjust their instruction as needed to help students achieve mastery of the material. Additionally, formative assessment allows students to monitor their own progress and make adjustments to their learning strategies.

Overall, formative assessment plays a crucial role in the learning process by providing timely feedback and helping to improve teaching and learning outcomes.

Summative assessment is a type of evaluation conducted at the end of a learning period, typically a unit, module, course, or academic year, to determine the extent of a student's knowledge and skills acquisition. It is used to assess the overall achievement of learning objectives and is often structured in a formal, standardised format, such as exams, quizzes, projects, or presentations. Summative assessments are typically used to assign grades or determine if students have met specific academic standards or learning outcomes. This type of assessment may be high stakes, meaning that the results have significant consequences for the student, such as determining promotion or graduation. 

Overall, summative assessment serves as a way to measure and document student learning progress and proficiency in a given subject area.

Authentic assessment is a form of evaluation that focuses on assessing students' knowledge and skills in a real-world context. This method of assessment aims to measure students' ability to apply their learning in practical and meaningful ways, rather than just regurgitating memorised information.

Authentic assessment tasks are typically open-ended and require students to demonstrate their understanding through tasks such as projects, presentations, performances, and problem-solving activities. These tasks are designed to mimic the types of challenges and tasks that students may encounter in the workforce or in real-life situations.

One of the key principles of authentic assessment is that it provides a more holistic and comprehensive view of a student's abilities. Rather than relying solely on traditional exams and quizzes, authentic assessment takes into account a student's critical thinking, creativity, communication skills, and ability to work collaboratively.

Overall, authentic assessment seeks to provide a more accurate and meaningful measure of a student's learning and mastery of skills. It encourages students to think critically, apply their knowledge in practical situations, and develop a deeper understanding of the material.