Summative assessment (tests, exams) judges learning at a point in time. Formative assessment gathers ongoing evidence during learning to guide next steps. Both are necessary; formative is more powerful for learning.
Best practice: Australian education research confirms frequent low-stakes formative assessment improves achievement and motivation across year levels.
Pro tip: Ask open-ended questions before revealing answers. 'What do you notice?' before 'Why is this true?' Students engage with ideas rather than simply checking right/wrong.
