What type of scoring is designed to measure student performance against established criteria?

Criterion-referenced scoring is designed to evaluate student performance based on a set of predetermined standards or criteria. This type of assessment aims to determine whether students have achieved specific learning objectives, regardless of how their performance compares to that of their peers. By focusing on individual mastery of content and skills, criterion-referenced scoring provides clear information about what students know and can do, allowing educators to identify areas of strength and weakness relative to the goals set for the classroom or curriculum. This approach is particularly useful for measuring student progress and outcomes in relation to specific educational standards.

In contrast, norm-referenced scoring compares a student’s performance to that of a group, typically using percentile rankings or similar metrics. Holistic scoring evaluates overall student performance through a single score based on general impressions, while analytical scoring breaks down performance into various components, providing detailed feedback but not necessarily measuring against established criteria in the same way.