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What Are Summative Assessments?
Formal assessments at the end of instruction.
Evaluate learning and achievement.
Why Use Summative Assessments?
Measure mastery of grade-level standards.
Inform report cards and placement.
Review instruction program strengths.
How Are Summative Assessments Used?
Given at the end of learning.
Evaluate mastery and assign grades.
Examples and Tools
SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium)
What:
California’s state summative test for grades 3–8 in English Language Arts and Math. It includes multiple-choice, short answer, and performance tasks.
Why:
Measures student mastery of grade-level standards and is used for state accountability.
Helps schools and teachers reflect on instruction and plan future goals.
How: Administer online in spring; prepare students with practice tasks and rubrics.
NWEA Summative
What:
An optional end-of-year, computer-adaptive assessment that provides summative data on student growth in math and reading.
Why:
Provides a final snapshot of how much academic growth a student has made over the year.
Can be used for placement, progress reports, and goal setting.
How: Give final MAP test in spring; compare growth since fall.
NWEA Access.pdfCommon Summative Assessments (CSA)
What: Grade-level or department-created tests given at the end of a unit, quarter, or trimester.
Why: They measure student mastery of standards and ensure consistency across classrooms. Often scored with common rubrics or answer keys.
How: Give end-of-unit tests created by teams; use shared rubrics for scoring.
Performance Tasks / Projects
What: In-depth assessments where students apply their learning to complete a task, project, or presentation.
Why: These allow students to show understanding in creative or real-world ways. Often includes writing, problem-solving, or hands-on work.
How: Assign multi-step projects with clear rubrics; allow class time to complete.
End-of-Unit or End-of-Chapter Tests
What: Traditional tests provided by the curriculum or created by the teacher to assess learning after a unit.
Why: Measures whether students have met the specific objectives taught in a unit or chapter.
How: Use curriculum-provided assessments at the end of each unit.
Science CAST (Grade 5, 8, and 11)
What: California’s state science assessment for students in grades 5, 8, and once in high school (typically grade 11).
Why: Measures mastery of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and supports state and school accountability.
How: Test in grades 5, 8, and 11 through CAASPP; prep with NGSS-aligned tasks.
i-Ready or STAR End-of-Year Assessments
What: Computer-based tests used by some districts to assess reading and/or math growth over the school year.
Why: Provides a summative growth score and helps guide placement, goal setting, and intervention decisions.
How: Administer online at year’s end to evaluate progress and placement.
CAASPP
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