The examination system that compares a student’s performance with that of peers is called Norm-referenced. In this type of assessment, an individual's score is interpreted by comparing it to the scores of a 'norm group' – a representative sample of students who have previously taken the same test. The purpose is to rank students or determine their relative standing within a larger group.
Common examples include standardized achievement tests, which often report scores as percentiles, indicating how a student performed relative to others in the norm group. For instance, a student scoring in the 80th percentile performed better than 80% of their peers. This approach helps in identifying students who are performing significantly above or below average. In contrast, criterion-referenced tests measure performance against a fixed standard, mastery learning focuses on achieving a specific level of competence before moving on, and competency-based assessments evaluate practical skills against defined standards. Thus, comparing performance with peers is the hallmark of norm-referenced assessment.