What is an example of a summative assessment for ESL learners?

A summative assessment is designed to evaluate and measure what learners have learned at the end of an instructional unit or course, typically assessing their overall learning and performance. Final exams and standardized tests fit this definition perfectly as they are administered after a specific learning period to gauge a student's comprehension and mastery of the material covered.

In contrast, classroom participation refers to the ongoing engagement of students during lessons, which is more formative in nature as it aims to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback. Weekly quizzes, while they assess understanding, are generally considered formative assessments, providing information to improve learning before the end of the course. Group projects can offer insights into collaborative skills and knowledge, but they also typically focus on formative aspects rather than an overall summative evaluation of content knowledge. Thus, final exams or standardized tests serve the purpose of summative assessment for ESL learners effectively.