How do formative and summative assessments differ? Formative assessments are for the student. It's data that helps to identify what they know and what they need to practice. Summative assessments however, provide information to teachers, administrators and parents, about how much a student has learned as of a particular point in time.
Based on the work of Rick Stiggins, we like to consider a balanced approach to assessments. We see formative assessment as a tool FOR learning, and summative assessment as a measure OF learning.