While reporting the result of assessment a college teacher makes use of…
2020
While reporting the result of assessment a college teacher makes use of percentile ranks in place of scores obtained by his/her students. What kind of evaluation will it be called?
- A.
Criterion-referenced
- B.
Norm-referenced
- C.
Formative
- D.
Summative
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
A percentile rank tells you what proportion of the comparison (norm) group a student scored above. So when a teacher reports results as percentile ranks instead of raw scores, each student's standing is being expressed relative to the performance of the rest of the group, not against a fixed standard of mastery.
Interpreting a learner's result by comparing it with the performance of a defined reference group is the defining feature of norm-referenced evaluation. Hence reporting in percentile ranks is a norm-referenced practice.
By contrast, criterion-referenced evaluation judges a learner against a predetermined standard or criterion (e.g., "80% correct = mastery"), independent of how others did. Formative and summative refer to when/why evaluation is done (during learning to improve it, versus at the end to certify achievement), not to the frame of reference used to interpret the score.