formative mark

USAGE SUMMARY

"formative mark" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to refer to a grade or evaluation of a student's work that doesn't count towards the final score. For example, "He received a formative mark of 80% on his project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Modelled through the teacher's own formative marking, pupils know what the expectations are.

The Guardian

Tellingly, in their letter to the patent office, its lawyers predict that McDonald's will "likely expand the use of its 'Mc' formative marks to include the same services on which the McWellness mark is intended to be used".

The Economist

We interviewed each respondent twice: once after the formative marking in January 2004, and again after the summative marking in May 2004.

BMC Medical Education

Hunter Stockton Thompson (1937-2005) was the wild child of an insurance salesman father and librarian mother, his formative years marked by mischief and petty crime that progressed, by the time of his senior year of high school, to stealing cars and robbing liquor stores.

The Guardian

Formative (form).

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Now in her mid-forties, she is part of an energetic generation in Japan, whose formative years were marked by the hardship of war.

The New Yorker

Her formative years were marked by abuse and poverty and by the time young Freda was a teenager, she was living on the streets and surviving on food scraps from bins.

BBC

Our formative decade was marked tragically in its first year by the May 1970 Ohio National Guard shootings of protesting college students at Kent State University.

HuffPost

During the 1940s and 1950s, when both the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) and the American Quarter Horse Association AQHAA) were in their formative years, minimally marked or roan Appaloosas were sometimes used in Quarter Horse breeding programs.

Wikipedia

The statistically significant relationship between performance in formative assessments and marks in EOC examinations was maintained regardless of year of commencement in the program (data not shown).

BMC Medical Education

Their formative years have been marked by both economic expansion and political discord.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "formative mark" to specifically indicate an assessment designed to provide feedback and guide learning, rather than a final grade.

Common error

Avoid using "formative mark" when referring to a final grade or evaluation that determines a student's overall performance. A formative assessment is designed to inform ongoing teaching and learning, not to provide a final judgment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formative mark" functions as a noun phrase, where 'formative' acts as an adjective specifying the type of 'mark'. It refers to a score or evaluation given as part of a formative assessment process.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis of "formative mark" reveals that it's a grammatically correct phrase used to describe an assessment score given during a learning process for feedback and improvement, not as a final evaluation. While the phrase is understandable, Ludwig indicates a limited number of examples. This suggests it may not be as widely used as related terms like "summative assessment". In educational contexts, understanding the difference between formative and summative assessments is crucial for effective teaching and learning strategies. The related phrases and writing guidance provided here will hopefully clarify appropriate contexts and prevent the most common mistakes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instructive mark

Replaces "formative" with a synonym focusing on the teaching aspect of the mark.

diagnostic mark

Emphasizes the assessment's role in identifying areas for improvement.

lifelong mark

Shifts the focus to the enduring impact, rather than the developmental stage.

initial mark

Highlights the beginning or early stage of the marking process.

first mark

Highlights the starting point of the grading or evaluation process.

education mark

Broader term referring to a grade or evaluation in education.

trained mark

Focuses on a mark given in a training context, rather than for formative assessment.

training mark

Similar to 'trained mark', emphasizing the training environment.

formed mark

Indicates a mark that has taken shape or been finalized.

summative mark

Opposite of formative, referring to a final evaluation.

FAQs

How to use "formative mark" in a sentence?

A "formative mark" is used to assess progress during a learning process, helping to identify areas needing improvement. For example, "The student received a "formative mark" on the draft essay, highlighting areas for revision before the final submission."

What's the difference between "formative mark" and summative assessment?

A "formative mark" is part of an ongoing assessment process that provides feedback to improve learning. A summative assessment, in contrast, is a final evaluation of learning.

What are some alternatives to "formative mark"?

Depending on the context, alternatives could include "developmental assessment", "progress check", or "feedback score".

Why is the formative assessment important?

Formative assessments and associated marks provide valuable insights into student understanding and guide teaching strategies, enhancing the learning process.