What type of tests are norm-referenced tests?

Norm-referenced tests are designed to compare a student's performance to that of a larger, representative norm group. The primary purpose of these tests is to determine where an individual stands relative to their peers. This comparison allows educators and administrators to estimate how well a student has performed in relation to others, providing insights into the student's academic abilities, strengths, and weaknesses in a broader context.

These tests often produce scores such as percentiles or standard scores, which indicate how a student's performance relates to the average performance of the norm group. For example, if a student scores in the 70th percentile, this means that they performed better than 70% of the students in the norm group. This type of testing is valuable in various educational assessments, enabling the identification of both high-achieving and struggling students.

In contrast, absolute grading criteria focus on individual mastery without comparison, while formative assessments are generally aimed at tracking student progress over time rather than making comparative judgments. Assessments focused solely on individual skill mastery do not incorporate a comparison to a normative population, which distinguishes them from norm-referenced tests. Thus, understanding the intent and structure of norm-referenced tests is crucial in educational evaluation and planning.