What is summative evaluation primarily concerned with?

Summative evaluation is primarily focused on assessing student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against a standard or benchmark. It is commonly associated with evaluating the effectiveness of a course or program and typically culminates in the assignment of grades after testing or assessments have been completed. This form of evaluation helps instructors determine how well students have absorbed the material and whether they have achieved the desired learning outcomes.

In contrast, formative evaluation is concerned with providing ongoing feedback during the learning process to identify areas for improvement and enhance future lessons. While formative evaluation is vital for student engagement and continuous development throughout a course, summative evaluation serves a different purpose by acting as a final assessment tool to summarize what students have learned following instruction.