What does a norm-referenced assessment indicate?

A norm-referenced assessment focuses on comparing a student's performance to that of a group of peers. This type of assessment provides valuable insights into how an individual student's results stack up against a defined population, typically representing a similar demographic or age group. The primary purpose is to position a student within a normative distribution, allowing educators to see where the student stands relative to their classmates or peers.

For instance, if a student scores in the 70th percentile on a norm-referenced test, it indicates that the student performed better than 70% of the peers who took the same assessment. This comparison can be instrumental in identifying students who are performing above or below the average, thus aiding in decisions regarding instruction, support, and curriculum adjustments.

In contrast, other types of assessments might focus on different aspects: criterion-referenced assessments evaluate student performance against predefined standards, basic literacy skills assessments highlight whether students meet foundational literacy expectations, and assessments of individual improvement track a student's progress over time. These approaches serve different purposes and provide unique insights that are not available through norm-referenced assessments.