How is norm referencing different from criterion referencing?
A criterion-referenced test measures a student’s knowledge against certain defined standards and reports to what extent those standards were met. For example, a criterion for a third-grade math student may say, “The student will round a whole number, 9,999 or less, to the nearest ten, hundred, and thousand.” (Taken from the Mathematics Standards of Learning, State of Virginia) The student would be given several problems relating to that standard. The test then reports to what extent the student appears to have mastered the concept. Other examples: Most of the tests we give our students are criterion-referenced tests more or less directly based on the curriculum we are using. Ohio public school students have to pass a criterion-referenced test, known as a proficiency test, in order to graduate.
