What distinguishes norm-referenced assessments from criterion-referenced assessments?

The distinction between norm-referenced assessments and criterion-referenced assessments lies primarily in how each type evaluates student performance. The correct answer highlights that norm-referenced assessments compare a student's performance to that of their peers, effectively placing individuals along a spectrum or ranking based on the overall performance of a larger group. This approach allows educators to see where a student stands relative to others, which can be useful for identifying outliers or determining eligibility for certain programs.

In contrast, criterion-referenced assessments measure a student's performance against specific learning objectives or criteria, rather than against the performance of other students. This means that students are evaluated on whether they have met particular benchmarks, regardless of how peers perform. The emphasis here is on mastering the subject matter rather than achieving a specific rank or position in comparison to fellow students.

The notion that criterion-referenced assessments are always more accurate than norm-referenced assessments is misleading, as accuracy can depend on the context and intent of the assessment being used. Moreover, stating that norm-referenced assessments assess against established standards does not fully capture the nature of such assessments, as they primarily utilize a comparative framework.