What type of assessment is used for ranking in class?

Key Points

Standard Referenced Assessment (also known as Norm-Referenced Assessment) is the type of assessment typically used for ranking in a class.

• It measures an individual's performance in comparison to the performance of a broader group, this group being a 'norm group'.
• These assessments rank individuals along a bell curve, which then highlights how a student performs in relation to their peers.
• For example, if a student scores in the 85th percentile on a norm-referenced test, it means they scored higher than 85% of the norm group.
• This ranking methodology can illustrate a student's position in a larger population, which can be very valuable in a variety of circumstances, such as standardized testing.

Additional Information

On the other hand:

• Criterion-referenced assessments measure an individual's performance against a specific set of criteria or a standard. It does not compare a student's performance to others but checks to see whether the student has learned a specific body or knowledge or set of skills.
• External tests are assessments created by an outside entity and not by the teacher. They can be both criterion-referenced or norm-referenced.
• Formative tests are performed to monitor learning during the learning process. They are not generally used for ranking purposes, but to provide feedback that can improve ongoing teaching and learning.

Hence, we can conclude that option 3 is the correct answer.