FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What is meant by the term 'norm' in educational assessments?

1. A standardized test score

2. A distribution of scores from a norm group

3. An individual student’s performance

4. A set of goals for student achievement

The correct answer is: A distribution of scores from a norm group

The term 'norm' in educational assessments refers to a distribution of scores from a norm group, which serves as a benchmark for evaluating individual performance. Norms are established by administering assessments to a representative sample of students, thereby creating a normative score that reflects the typical performance levels within a specific population. This allows educators to compare an individual student’s results against the average achievements of a larger group, identifying whether a student is performing above, below, or at the expected level. This approach helps in determining the effectiveness of instructional methods and understanding the relative performance of students in a more nuanced way. In contrast, standardized test scores represent individual outcomes rather than the broader context needed for comparison. Individual student performance provides a snapshot of what one student has achieved but lacks the comparative framework that norms offer. Additionally, a set of goals for student achievement outlines expectations for learning but does not specifically describe the statistical framework used to gauge student performance through assessments.