Formative assessments are not proctored. These assessments are used by students and teachers to gain feedback about student learning during the instructional process. Formative assessments provide a low-stakes way for students to get feedback early in the learning process so they can identify gaps in their knowledge. General characteristics include:

• Open book/ open note
• Multiple attempts
• Non-graded practice quizzes
• Not timed

Summative assessments should be proctored or supervised. These assessments are mostly used by teachers to gain information about student learning after the learning has been completed in order to assign a grade based on the knowledge that was demonstrated by the student. Summative assessments are high stakes and typically occur at set points during, and at the end of, the course. General characteristics include:

• Single attempts
• Closed book
• Timed

University of Utah Exam Services offers support for formative assessments through consultations and advising. With limited seats available and locations, the UOnline Center and Exam Services sites are reserved for summative assessments.

Written exams should be supervised either in class or by a in-person proctor.

Where possible assessments should be given in the classroom, during class time. Instructors have more control over assessments given in class, can monitor students closely, be available to answer questions, and quickly gather completed materials.

Exam services centers, or remote proctored assessments, are useful for large fully online classes (e.g 50+) where, monitoring, answering questions, and gathering completed materials can be time-consuming.