What are criterion-referenced tests?

What are criterion-referenced tests?

• A. They measure whether a student has mastered target skills by a given age
• B. They compare performance to peers
• C. They assess general intelligence
• D. They evaluate teacher effectiveness

Answer: (A)

In criterion-referenced testing, the goal is to determine if a student has learned and can perform specific skills or meet defined objectives, usually aligned to what is expected by a certain age or grade. It’s about mastery of the target skills themselves, not how the student stacks up against others. That’s why this option fits best: it describes measuring mastery of target skills by a given age, which reflects checking whether the student has achieved the predefined criteria. The other ideas don’t fit criterion-referenced testing. Comparing performance to peers describes norm-referenced testing, where standings relative to others matter. Assessing general intelligence points to intelligence or cognitive ability tests, which aren’t about mastery of specific skills. Evaluating teacher effectiveness is about outcomes related to teaching performance, not the definition of criterion-referenced assessment.

In criterion-referenced testing, the goal is to determine if a student has learned and can perform specific skills or meet defined objectives, usually aligned to what is expected by a certain age or grade. It’s about mastery of the target skills themselves, not how the student stacks up against others.

That’s why this option fits best: it describes measuring mastery of target skills by a given age, which reflects checking whether the student has achieved the predefined criteria.

The other ideas don’t fit criterion-referenced testing. Comparing performance to peers describes norm-referenced testing, where standings relative to others matter. Assessing general intelligence points to intelligence or cognitive ability tests, which aren’t about mastery of specific skills. Evaluating teacher effectiveness is about outcomes related to teaching performance, not the definition of criterion-referenced assessment.