Developing summative assessment literacy for valid instruction is a qualification requirement for language teachers in Sweden. Yet novice teachers may be unprepared for how to implement regulations in practice. They may even experience a reality shock when facing large classes in which knowledge levels and motivation vary substantially or when…

The purpose of this study is to investigate summative assessment (SA) perceptions and the sources of summative assessment literacy for novice second/foreign language teachers in Sweden and Finland. Data were collected through a questionnaire (N = 27) and a semi-structured interview (N = 22) from a group of novice teachers who graduated from two…

Assessment for Learning (AfL) describes the powerful role assessment plays in shaping how and what students learn. AfL is associated with formative assessment and is placed in contrast to the summative role of certification. This article, however, focuses on AfL in Confucian-influenced cultures and finds that this summative/formative binary does…

The increasing popularity of accountability systems and frameworks around European countries have encouraged many stakeholders to insist on providing high quality assessments. For language assessment, it appeared a focus on Summative Assessment, testing and high stakes examinations, while it was pointed out the significant role of Formative…

The Alaska Science Assessment is administered annually statewide to students in grades 5, 8 and 10 and is a summative assessment designed to measure a student's knowledge of the "K-12 Science Standards for Alaska," which were adopted in June 2019. Summative assessments are designed to provide a snapshot of student, school, or program…

Despite the expanding literature in the last three decades on modes of implementation and the various forms of formal and informal assessments, there is limited evidence of academics' knowledge and understanding of continuous assessment practice. Using a mixed methods sequential explanatory research design, this paper aimed to investigate…

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital or virtual learning was gaining traction and popularity, but relatively small percentages of K-12 and post-secondary students engaged in virtual learning environments. The pandemic forced emergency remote learning, altering the landscape of education. While the long-term plans of K-12 school districts and…

Teachers draw on an amalgam of knowledge bases in their summative assessment decision making. However, research indicates that teachers' actions do not necessarily reflect their knowledge of good summative assessment practice, as other factors are at play. This article draws on findings from a qualitative study to explore what drives the decision…

The article demonstrates some of the results identified in a comprehensive study of the assessment process for certification of training courses. The study focuses on the attitude of the course participants towards the assessment, based on which recommendations were developed to improve the effectiveness of the assessment. Based on the views of…

This paper explores the experience of emotion for eight preservice teachers as they learn to assess their students while concurrently being assessed. This qualitative study utilised semi-structured interviews and assessment-related artefacts. Findings indicate that emotional engagement influenced preservice teachers' assessment decision making.…

Summative course grades or marks are teacher-constructed and contain sources of variance other than achievement. Nonachievement grading dimensions may relate to beliefs about learning and instruction, which are formed early and have effects on practice. We report the development and validation of the Survey of Unorthodox Grading Beliefs for…

Teacher summative judgements of children's attainment in science, which are statutory at age 11 in England, require consideration of both valid sampling of the construct and reliable comparison of outcomes. In order to develop understanding of the enacted 'trade off' between validity and reliability, this three-year case study, within the Teacher…

This discussion paper provides an outline of how stakeholders across the Irish higher education sector were supported to develop a national understanding of assessment and feedback through local and national conversations. Within the context of a national enhancement initiative and utilising a conversational approach, a collective effort was made…

Teachers' classroom assessment practices tend to encourage rote learning instead of meaningful learning. To enhance teachers' classroom assessment practices, teacher involvement in assessment construction appears necessary. To foster teacher professional growth in relation to this issue, a professional development programme on summative assessment…

Over the past two decades, curricula in higher education have increasingly incorporated collaborative learning. However, due to (a) large variations in students' domain-specific abilities (e.g. knowledge and/or skills) and the effort they invest into the collaboration and (b) teachers' limited knowledge about how to assess collaborative learning,…