What score must be considered when determining a student's summative score using the method of mounting evidence?

When determining a student's summative score using the method of mounting evidence, the most frequent score on all assessments is considered crucial. This approach is grounded in the idea that it reflects the student's consistent performance over a range of assessments, rather than being influenced by outliers or extreme scores.

Using the most frequent score, sometimes referred to as the mode, helps to capture the most representative performance level of a student, especially in varied testing situations. Since assessments can vary in difficulty and can be impacted by numerous factors, focusing on the score that appears most frequently provides a stable foundation for understanding a student's overall achievement.

This method aligns with the principles of standards-based assessment, which emphasize the importance of measuring students’ mastery of content over time through multiple data points. By identifying the mode, educators can ensure that they are reflecting a typical performance level rather than relying on an isolated score that might not accurately represent student learning.

Ultimately, this approach helps to provide a holistic view of the learner’s capabilities and gives a clearer picture of their understanding and proficiency in relation to the established standards.