Which term refers to data evaluated at the end of an educational period to measure performance?

The term that refers to data evaluated at the end of an educational period to measure performance is summative. This type of assessment is conducted after a particular instructional period, such as the end of a unit, semester, or academic year, and its primary purpose is to evaluate student learning, skill acquisition, and academic achievement. Summative assessments can take various forms, such as final exams, end-of-course projects, or standardized tests, providing educators with insights into the effectiveness of their instruction and the overall performance of their students.

In contrast, other terms such as informal, criterion, and formative assessment serve different functions. Informal assessments are typically less structured and can occur throughout the teaching process, often providing immediate feedback but not necessarily quantifying overall performance at a specific educational endpoint. Criterion-referenced assessment measures student performance against a predetermined standard or criterion rather than relative to other students, while formative assessment is designed to monitor student learning during the instructional process to provide ongoing feedback that can be used to enhance teaching and learning. Summative assessment, therefore, is distinct in its focus on measuring the culmination of learning outcomes at the end of a designated period.