Which type of assessment compares student performance to a standardization sample or norm?

• A. Ipsative Assessment
• B. Criterion-Referenced Test
• C. Norm-Referenced Test
• D. Portfolio Assessment

Answer: (C)

The idea tested is how scores are interpreted relative to a group. A norm-referenced assessment uses a standardization sample to create norms, so a student’s performance is interpreted by comparing it to how peers performed on the same test. This yields relative standing, often shown as percentiles or standard scores, telling you where the student fits within the larger group.

This approach is different from measuring mastery of specific skills against fixed criteria (criterion-referenced), which asks, “Did you meet the set standards?” It also differs from comparing a student to their own prior work (ipsative), which tracks personal growth over time, and from portfolio assessment, which emphasizes quality across samples of work rather than standardized comparisons.

So the type that compares to a standardization sample or norm is the norm-referenced assessment.