Final answer:
Summative assessments should be administered at the conclusion of an instructional unit to measure students' understanding and determine if the learning objectives were achieved.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most appropriate time to administer a summative assessment is B. At the conclusion of an instructional unit. Summative assessments are comprehensive evaluations used to measure students' understanding after instruction has been completed. These assessments aim to determine if students have met the learning objectives of the course or unit.
Unlike formative assessments, which are conducted during the learning process to monitor progress and guide instruction, summative assessments provide an overall evaluation of learning at the end of an instructional period. These assessments can include multiple-choice review questions, performance tasks, or essays that require a student to synthesize the material learned throughout the unit.
An effective assessment strategy is to ensure that summative assessments are aligned with the learning objectives and the instructional materials provided throughout the unit, allowing students to demonstrate their mastery of the content.