Summative assessments are described as __________.

Summative assessments are characterized as cumulative, independent activities that measure a student’s knowledge and skills at the end of a specific instructional period. They are designed to evaluate the overall understanding of the subject matter, typically through tests, quizzes, or final projects. The key aspect of summative assessments is that they serve as a formal means of determining what students have learned and how well they can apply their knowledge after a unit of study, course, or program. This is essential for teachers to assess the effectiveness of their instruction and for stakeholders to understand students' academic achievement at a particular point in time.

In contrast, the other options describe different types of assessments. Ongoing evaluations represent formative assessments aimed at monitoring student learning to provide ongoing feedback, while informal observations focus more on behavior rather than academic knowledge. Collaborative group projects, while they can be part of a summative assessment, do not singularly define the broader category of summative assessments as they often emphasize teamwork and collaboration rather than individual mastery of content.