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pass. Benchmark reference measurements tell students how far they
can reach the specified standard.
3) Formative and Summative Assessment Formative and Summative
Assessment; relates to the collection of information on the adequacy
and use of this information as a basis for further development.
Summative assessment is concerned with gathering information
about adequacy for decision-making in terms of utilization.
Formative assessment is carried out during the development or
improvement of programs or products (or people and so on). These
assessments are conducted for staff within the program agency and
usually remain internal; however, these assessments can be carried
out by internal or external evaluators or (better still) a combination.
The difference between formative and summative is well summed
up in an allusion from Bob Stake "When the cook tastes the soup, it
is formative. When the guests taste the soup, it is summative.
Summative assessments are carried out after completion and for the
benefit of external parties or decision-makers, for example, funding
agencies or potential users. However, this can be carried out by either
internal or internal evaluators for a joint venture. For credibility reasons, it
is better to involve an outside evaluator than a formative assessment. It
should not be confused with outcome assessment, which only evaluates the
results, not the process. This can be either formative or summative.
The method used in formative assessment is different from summative
assessment. Formative assessments rely on technical reviews, tutorials, and
small or large group trials. Data collection methods, such as observation,
interviews, and short tests, are often informal. In contrast, summative
assessment requires more formal data collection procedures and methods.
Summative assessment often uses comparative group studies in quasi-
experimental designs.