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

The choice that exemplifies a summative assessment is the option of having students independently complete a set of ten word problems. Summative assessments are designed to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against some standard or benchmark.

In this case, having students complete a set of word problems independently allows the teacher to measure how well students have grasped the content after instruction is complete. This assessment provides data that can help determine whether students meet learning objectives and understand the material as intended.

In contrast, other options focus on either instruction or formative assessment strategies. For example, working with students to complete problems reflects a collaborative approach that promotes understanding and learning during the instructional process, which aligns more with formative assessment. Questioning students to revise instruction suggests a feedback mechanism aimed at improving learning in real-time, characteristic of formative assessments that monitor student progress. Providing problems before a new unit is an anticipatory strategy that prepares students for upcoming content, rather than assessing their existing knowledge.