Which of the following is the best example of a mathematics summative assessment?

• A. Having students independently complete a set of ten word problems at the end of a unit of study
• B. Working with students who are to solve a word problem and explain the solution to the class
• C. Questioning students' understanding of a problem-solving approach at the end of class
• D. Providing worked solutions to three word problems before beginning a new unit of study

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is using an end-of-unit evaluation to measure what students have learned in mathematics. A summative assessment is given after instruction and aims to determine mastery of the content taught, often feeding into final grades or overall achievement.

Having students independently complete a set of ten word problems at the end of a unit fits this purpose best. It requires applying a range of skills learned throughout the unit, is completed without ongoing guidance, and provides a single, cumulative measure of understanding. This contrasts with activities designed to guide learning or check understanding during instruction—like solving a problem aloud for the class (a formative, instructional check), quick end-of-class questions (ongoing checks), or giving worked solutions before starting a new unit (which is instructional support, not a measure of what was learned).