FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What type of assessment measures each student against uniform objectives or criteria?

1. Norm-Referenced Assessment

2. Criterion-Referenced Assessment

3. Performance-Based Assessment

4. Diagnostic Assessment

The correct answer is: Criterion-Referenced Assessment

Criterion-referenced assessment is a type of assessment that evaluates each student’s performance according to a uniform set of standards or expectations, rather than comparing their performance to that of other students. This method focuses on whether individual students have mastered specific skills or knowledge as defined by predetermined criteria. For example, if the goal is to assess students’ proficiency in mathematics, a criterion-referenced assessment would measure whether each student can solve particular types of problems and demonstrate specific competencies outlined in the curriculum. The results of this assessment are used to determine whether students have achieved the desired learning goals, thereby providing clear feedback on their individual performance relative to the set objectives. This approach contrasts with norm-referenced assessments, which rank students against one another. Performance-based assessments typically involve real-world tasks and are often more subjective, while diagnostic assessments aim to identify students' strengths and weaknesses prior to instructive measures. This differentiation reinforces the clarity and specificity of criterion-referenced assessments in setting academic standards and expectations.