An evaluation approach that compares an individual's scores to the scores of others is called what?

• A. Criterion-referenced
• B. Norm-referenced
• C. Formative
• D. Summative

Answer: (B)

Comparing an individual's score to the scores of others is norm-referenced evaluation. This approach interprets a result by placing it within the distribution of a reference group, so you can see how you stack up against peers. It often uses percentile ranks or standard scores to show where a person stands relative to the group, rather than whether they have met a fixed standard. For example, being in the 75th percentile means you scored higher than 75% of the reference group.

This differs from criterion-referenced assessment, which judges performance against specific standards or criteria, independent of how others perform. Formative assessment is about ongoing feedback to improve learning during the process, not ranking individuals. Summative assessment looks at final outcomes to determine overall achievement.