What differentiates norm-referenced tests from other types?

Norm-referenced tests are designed to evaluate an individual's performance in relation to a defined group, often referred to as the norm group. This comparison allows educators and psychologists to understand how a student's scores rank relative to their peers. Such tests provide important contextual information, highlighting where an individual stands compared to others who have taken the same assessment, typically within the same age group or grade level.

The emphasis on ranking a student's performance against a broader population is what sets norm-referenced tests apart from other types of assessments, such as criterion-referenced tests, which assess whether an individual has mastered specific skills or knowledge without comparison to others. While other testing types may focus on individual mastery or isolate skills, norm-referenced tests inherently involve a comparative element that offers insights into a student's performance in a wider academic or developmental context.