What is the purpose of Domain-Referenced and Criterion-Referenced Tests?

The purpose of Domain-Referenced and Criterion-Referenced Tests is to assess mastery of a defined skill set. These types of assessments are designed specifically to determine how well a student has learned specific knowledge and skills within a content area. They measure student performance against a predetermined set of criteria or learning standards, rather than comparing the student's performance to that of other students. This means that the focus is on whether individuals can demonstrate proficiency in the material rather than how they rank compared to their peers.

In the context of educational assessments, a criterion-referenced test evaluates whether each student has achieved specific goals or competencies. For example, if a test evaluates understanding of mathematical concepts, it would determine whether a student can perform tasks such as solving equations or understanding fractions, based on pre-established criteria. This type of assessment is crucial for identifying areas where students have mastered content and areas needing further instruction or support, enabling targeted educational interventions.

The other options refer to different assessment types. Comparing students against a grade level standard and providing a norm-based ranking relate more to norm-referenced assessments, which focus on how students perform in relation to their peers, rather than their individual achievements regarding specific benchmarks. Evaluating performance relative to peers is also characteristic of these norm-referenced tests, which analyze