Which type of assessment is used to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit?

Summative assessment is designed to evaluate student learning at the conclusion of an instructional unit. This type of assessment typically occurs after a significant amount of teaching has taken place and is used to measure how well students have grasped the material covered during that unit. Summative assessments can take various forms, such as final exams, end-of-unit tests, or major projects, and they often contribute to students' overall grades.

The primary purpose of summative assessment is to summarize learning and provide an overview of student performance, which can then be used to determine if learning objectives have been met. It is distinct from formative assessments, which are conducted during the learning process to monitor student understanding and provide ongoing feedback. Diagnostic assessments, on the other hand, are implemented before instruction to gauge students' prior knowledge and skills. Ongoing assessments typically emphasize continuous evaluation throughout the learning process rather than at a defined endpoint.