What is formative feedback?

• A. Feedback focused on current performance that facilitates improvement and is generally low stakes
• B. Feedback focused on final outcomes only
• C. Feedback that only praises performance
• D. Feedback that is used for salary decisions

Answer: (A)

Formative feedback is ongoing guidance given during learning that targets your current performance and helps you improve. It should be specific, timely, and focused on actionable steps you can take to adjust your approach, skills, or understanding, rather than just judging the final result. Because it’s typically low-stakes, it won’t heavily affect your grade, so you can take risks, ask questions, and revise with the goal of getting better. For example, comments on a draft with concrete suggestions, or a practice quiz that highlighting what you still need to work on, are formative. This differs from feedback centered on final outcomes or grades (summative), feedback that merely praises (lacks actionable guidance), or feedback used for salary decisions.