Advantages and Disadvantages Summative Evaluation

In summative evaluation, the final effects of a curriculum are evaluated on the basis of its stated objectives. It takes place after the curriculum has been fully developed and put into operations.

Advantages of Summative Evaluation:

1. To know if students have understood: The summative evaluation follows certain strategies for evaluation by means of assignments, tests, projects, and more. In these ways, the teacher can make out if the students have learned and understood the subject.

2. They determine achievement: The usual procedure is that summative evaluations are done at the end of any instructional period. Thus, summative evaluation is considered to be evaluative in nature rather than being mentioned as diagnostic. The real meaning is that this evaluation is made used to find out the learning growth and attainment.

3. They make academic records: The results of summative evaluations are ones that are recorded as scores or grades into the students’ academic records. They can be in the format of test scores, letter grades, or report cards which can be used in the college admission process.

4. Provides opportunity: The presence of summative evaluation is a motivator as it assists the individuals and offers them an opportunity to develop a learning environment. This is an evaluation meant for learning and is based on the outcome.

5. Boosts individuals: The outcome of the summative evaluation is considered as a boosting factor when it’s positive. With this type of evaluation, confidence is boosted and also they act as a springboard to certain behavior change at a workplace or institution.

Disadvantages of Summative Evaluation:

1. Demotivates individuals: It is mentioned that summative evaluation motivates individuals so that they put in more effort into their studies. When student motivation and its impact are reviewed, the evidence for policy and practice information and a coordinating center at the University of London found the relation that sustained between self-esteem and standardized tests.

2. Rectification is late: The main disadvantages of summative evaluation are that since it focuses on output at the end, in case there are hindrances or difficulties, the learning process at the end can be tough. There is no chance to recover as the results are at the end. This is not an accurate reflection when learning is considered.

3. Disruptive: Since it is being a single test at the end of the complete session of academics, it makes almost all individuals anxious and disruptive. They face the summative evaluation with nervousness and fear.

4. No remedy: Nothing is done to identify hindrances or challenges well in advance in a summative evaluation. Instructional issues are not identified until they blow up and become critical.

5. Not accurate reflection of learning: When a summative evaluation is considered, it focuses mainly on the performance of the teachers as they teach to the test. A simple example is that when any state-level test focuses mainly on analogies and anagrams, students are interested in focusing and working on those exercises for hours. In this way, they divert from reading and writing or their vocabulary development.