Which assessment is conducted after an instructional unit to evaluate overall student learning?

Summative assessment is designed specifically to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit or period. Its primary purpose is to measure the extent to which students have mastered the objectives and content that were taught during that unit. This type of assessment is typically used to determine if educational goals have been met, providing a comprehensive overview of student performance, often reflected in final grades or substantial projects.

In contrast, formative assessment occurs throughout the instructional process and serves to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback, helping both instructors and students identify areas for improvement before the unit concludes. Norm-referenced assessments compare a student's performance to that of a peer group and are not specifically tied to the learning objectives of a particular unit. Diagnostic assessments, on the other hand, are conducted before instruction commences to identify students' strengths and weaknesses, ultimately guiding the instruction strategies that will be implemented.