A measure of student performance in comparison to the performance of a similar group of students is described as what kind of assessment?

• A. Norm-referenced assessments
• B. Criterion-referenced assessments
• C. Diagnostic assessments
• D. Formative assessments

Answer: (A)

The key idea is measuring a student’s performance by comparing it to how a similar group of students performs. That’s what norm-referenced assessments do: they place a student within the distribution of scores from a normative sample, often giving percentile ranks or standard scores. This shows relative standing—how a student compares to peers—rather than whether they’ve mastered specific skills or content.

In contrast, criterion-referenced assessments judge whether the student has met predefined standards or learning targets, regardless of how others perform. Diagnostic assessments focus on identifying specific strengths and weaknesses, and formative assessments are used during instruction to guide teaching and provide ongoing feedback.

So, a measure that compares a student to a group of similar students is best described as a norm-referenced assessment.