The main purpose of formative observation is to determine the degree to which a given learning task has been mastered and the part that has not yet been mastered. Its purpose is not to grade or identify learners, but to help students and teachers focus on the special learning necessary for further improvement.

Summative evaluation "points to a more general rating". Its direct purpose is to judge the educational effect, so as to distinguish the advantages and disadvantages, grade or identify qualified. Summative evaluation is linked with teaching responsibility, which provides a basis for personal decision-making and the choice of investment priority of educational resources.

Second, the audience of formative evaluation and summative evaluation is different.

Formative evaluation is internal-oriented, and the evaluation results are mainly for educators who are carrying out educational activities.

Summative evaluation is external-oriented, and the evaluation report is mainly presented to decision-making managers at all levels as the basis for them to formulate policies or take administrative measures.

This difference between formative evaluation and summative evaluation determines the external characteristics of these two types of evaluation activities: formative evaluators and implementers of educational activities are interdependent. The actual participants and implementers of educational activities need all kinds of help from formative evaluators, and these two types of personnel are closely related.

The summative evaluator maintains an independent relationship to a certain extent, which is the basis for them to carry out evaluation with an objective attitude.

Thirdly, formative evaluation and summative evaluation cover the educational process in different periods.

Formative evaluation directly points to the ongoing educational activities, aiming at improving such activities. Therefore, it can only be an evaluation in the process, and generally does not involve the whole process of educational activities.

Summative evaluation examines the final effect, so it is a test of the whole process of educational activities, usually after the end of the educational process.

Fourthly, formative evaluation and summative evaluation have different general requirements for evaluation results.

Formative evaluation is analytical, so it does not require a high degree of generalization of evaluation data. Summative evaluation is comprehensive, and it hopes that the final information will be highly general.

Baidu encyclopedia-formative evaluation

Baidu Encyclopedia-Summative Evaluation