A. Standardized Test
B. Essay Type Test
C. Objective type test
D. Norm referenced test
Answer is = D
You are absolutely correct! Out of the given options, a student’s performance is directly compared with other students in a:
D. Norm-referenced test
Here’s why the other options are not focused on comparing students to each other:
- Standardized Test: While standardized tests often have norms established, the primary focus isn’t necessarily on directly comparing students to each other. The emphasis is often on whether a student has achieved a certain level of mastery or proficiency as measured against a predetermined standard.
- Essay Type Test: Essay tests can be scored based on rubrics that establish criteria for quality, but they don’t inherently compare students to each other. Each essay is evaluated on its own merit based on the established criteria.
- Objective Type Test (including Multiple Choice and True/False): Similar to essay tests, objective tests are typically scored based on a correct answer key, not necessarily on a comparison with other students’ performance.
Norm-referenced tests, on the other hand, are specifically designed to compare student performance to a pre-established norm or average score of a representative group (the norm group). These tests typically:
- Rank students: They allow for assigning percentiles or stanines that indicate a student’s position relative to their peers in the norm group.
- Establish benchmarks: Normative data can be used to set benchmarks or achievement levels that indicate how well a student is performing compared to others.
Here are some key characteristics of norm-referenced tests:
- Standardized administration: The test is administered under consistent conditions to ensure fairness and comparability of scores.
- Focus on relative standing: The primary purpose is to compare students’ performance to the norm group, not necessarily to assess absolute mastery of a subject.
- Use in placement decisions: Norm-referenced tests can be used to place students in appropriate ability groups or determine eligibility for specific programs.
In conclusion, norm-referenced tests are the type of test where a student’s performance is directly compared with other students based on a pre-established norm group. This approach provides valuable insights into a student’s relative standing within their peer group. However, it’s important to consider that other factors, such as individual learning styles and prior experiences, can also influence test performance.