Norm-Referenced Test
Assessments & EvaluationsDefinition
An assessment that compares a student's performance to a national sample of students of the same age or grade. Results are reported as standard scores, percentile ranks, or age/grade equivalents. These tests help identify whether a student is performing significantly below expectations.
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Related Terms
A test that is administered and scored in a consistent manner across all test-takers. Standardized assessments use norm-referenced scores to compare a child's performance to a large sample of same-age peers. Common types include IQ tests, achievement tests, and adaptive behavior scales.
An assessment that measures a student's performance against a specific set of skills or standards, rather than comparing to other students. These tests show what a student can and cannot do — for example, whether they can add two-digit numbers or read at a certain level.
A score that indicates how far above or below average a student performs compared to same-age peers. Most standard scores have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. A score of 85 is one standard deviation below average; a score of 70 is two standard deviations below average.
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