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The Role of Authentic Assessment in Improving Learning Outcomes: A Review of Formative and Summative Assessment Practices

Author(s): Phoebe Kate V. Jacob ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7788-8661
Author(s) information:
Surigao del Norte State University, Surigao City, Philippines

Corresponding author

Authentic assessment has emerged as an important educational approach that promoted meaningful learning by engaging students in real-world and performance-based tasks. This study reviewed existing literature on the role of authentic assessment in improving learning outcomes, with emphasis on formative and summative assessment practices. A systematic literature review design was employed using studies retrieved from academic databases such as Google Scholar, ERIC, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. Relevant studies published between 2015 and 2025 were screened and analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed that authentic assessment significantly enhanced students’ critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and application of knowledge in real-life contexts. Formative assessment was found to support continuous learning through timely feedback, progress monitoring, and reflective practices, while summative assessment effectively evaluated overall student achievement through performance tasks, project-based activities, and portfolio assessment. The review also highlighted the importance of rubrics and scoring guides in ensuring transparent and consistent evaluation, as well as the value of student-centered evaluation in promoting active participation, self-reflection, and ownership of learning. Overall, the literature suggested that authentic assessment contributed to deeper understanding and improved learning outcomes across educational settings. The study recommended the integration of authentic assessment strategies into classroom instruction and encouraged further research on digital and discipline-based applications of authentic assessment practices.

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About this article

SUBMITTED: 07 May 2026
ACCEPTED: 28 May 2026
PUBLISHED: 31 May 2026
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 21 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/apga.v5i2.1187

Cite this article
Jacob, P. K. V. . (2026). The Role of Authentic Assessment in Improving Learning Outcomes: A Review of Formative and Summative Assessment Practices. Acta Pedagogia Asiana, 5(2), 304−324. https://doi.org/10.53623/apga.v5i2.1187
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