FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

How do norm-referenced tests compare individual student performance?

1. Based on mastery of content

2. Against a predetermined standard

3. By comparing to a normative sample

4. By absolute score limits

The correct answer is: By comparing to a normative sample

Norm-referenced tests are designed to evaluate an individual's performance in relation to a specified group, known as the normative sample. This method of assessment allows educators and researchers to determine how a student performs compared to their peers. The normative sample typically comprises a representative group of students who have taken the same test, providing a benchmark against which individual scores can be assessed. When a student takes a norm-referenced test, the results reveal not just their score, but also how that score ranks relative to the scores of others in the normative sample. This comparison helps to identify the student's position within the context of the group—whether they are above, below, or at the average performance level of their peers. This type of testing is especially useful in identifying students who may be in need of additional support, understanding whether specific interventions are effective, and ensuring that standards are consistently applied across different classrooms and demographics. It emphasizes relative performance instead of absolute mastery of content, which can be assessed differently using criterion-referenced tests that focus on whether students meet predefined learning standards.