What is the difference between Formative and Summative Assessment?

One aspect of school that all students will experience is assessments. These assessments are used to test students' knowledge about what they have learned. There are two main types of assessments that a student will take, which are formative and summative assessments. One of the main differences between these two types of assessments is when the test is taken. A formative assessment is taken during a learning activity. A summative assessment is taken after the learning activity. The purpose of each assessment is also different. The formative assessment is done to monitor the student during the activity. The summative assessment is to evaluate what the student has learned after the activity.