NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

What does a norm-referenced test measure?

1. The knowledge of a specific curriculum

2. The performance of a student against a standard set of criteria

3. The performance of students relative to their peers

4. The skills of a student in isolation from others

The correct answer is: The performance of students relative to their peers

A norm-referenced test is designed to evaluate a student's performance in comparison to a group of peers, rather than against a predefined standard. This type of assessment provides insights into how an individual's performance ranks within a certain population, often represented by a distribution curve. When students take a norm-referenced test, their scores are interpreted relative to the average performance of a comparative group, allowing educators to understand not only where a student stands but also how they compare to others in the same grade or age range. This approach is beneficial for identifying relative strengths and weaknesses among students, thereby informing instruction and intervention strategies. The focus of norm-referenced testing is primarily on contextual performance, making it distinct from assessments aimed at measuring absolute knowledge or skills as outlined in other options.