Differentiate between formative and summative assessment and give an example of each in fire service training.

• A. Formative assessment occurs during instruction to guide learning (e.g., quick checks); summative assessment evaluates competency at course end (e.g., final skill demonstration or written test)
• B. Formative assessment is only at the end
• C. Summative assessment is ongoing during instruction
• D. Formative assessment uses only written tests

Answer: (A)

Formative assessment is information gathered during instruction to guide learning and adjust teaching. In fire service training, this includes quick checks for understanding, instructor observations during a drill, and feedback or coaching as students practice a skill like deploying a hoseline or performing a search. The idea is to identify and address gaps while learning is still underway.

Summative assessment, on the other hand, evaluates overall competency after instruction is completed. In fire service training, this would be a final skill demonstration showing the student can perform the task to standard, or a written test that measures knowledge after the course.

This pairing fits because formative assessment supports improvement during learning, while summative assessment provides a measure of mastery at the end. The other statements misplace when formative or summative assessment occur or limit what formative assessment can be, suggesting formative is only at the end, or that summative is ongoing, or that formative is restricted to written tests.