Formative assessments are part of the instructional process.  These assessment types inform teachers and guide their instructional decisions.  Examples include: quizzes, homework, exit tickets, journals, checklists, observations, charts and diagrams.  Formative assessments may be graded or ungraded. Assessments that are graded (like quizzes or homework) are considered formal assessment.  Informal assessment is any type of feedback given on-the-spot. For example, a teacher might help a student with a math problem in class; other examples include: free writing, brainstorming, and journaling.  Informal feedback can also be conducted student-to-student.  Informal assessments are not graded.   Summative assessments are used to evaluate students’ mastery of content at a certain point in time.  These assessments can be administered at the beginning of the school year (for baseline data), or given throughout the year including: after each unit, at the midterm, and/or at the conclusion of the school year; examples include: state tests, ACT, SAT, entrance exams, and final exams.