What type of assessment is primarily 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 is often used to determine whether students have achieved the learning objectives and to measure their comprehension and skills following a specified period of instruction. Typically administered through tests, projects, or presentations, summative assessments provide feedback on student performance and understanding at a point in time, which is crucial for both educators and learners because it informs future teaching strategies and learning paths.

In contrast, diagnostic assessment is utilized before instruction to gauge students' prior knowledge and skills, formative assessment takes place during the instructional process to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback, and performance assessment focuses on assessing students through practical tasks and demonstrations of skills rather than traditional testing methods. Each serves a different purpose in the educational process, but summative assessments specifically aim to evaluate what students have learned at the end of a learning period.