What type of assessment provides an estimate of an individual’s position in a predefined population?

Norm-referenced assessment is designed to compare an individual's performance to that of a predefined population. This type of assessment yields results that indicate the extent to which a student's score is above or below the average score of the group, often represented by percentiles or standard scores. This comparison helps educators understand where the individual stands in relation to their peers, making it a valuable tool for identifying students who may need additional support or those who are performing well beyond the average. By using norms derived from a representative sample, these assessments can provide insights into a student's strengths and weaknesses relative to a broader context.

In contrast, the other types of assessments serve different purposes. Criterion-referenced assessments focus on whether individuals meet specific learning goals or criteria without comparison to others. Formative assessments are ongoing measures used to monitor student learning and provide feedback during instruction, while summative assessments evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional period, often without providing a norm-based comparison.