Which statement best describes a criterion-referenced assessment?

• A. It compares performance to a normative group
• B. It uses percentile ranks for grading
• C. It is always standardized
• D. It measures performance against defined criteria or standards

Answer: (D)

Criterion-referenced assessment focuses on whether a learner has achieved predefined criteria or standards. It measures performance against those standards, not against other students. That's why this description—measuring performance against defined criteria or standards—is the best fit. For example, a driving test or a skills rubric uses explicit criteria, and a student demonstrates mastery by meeting those criteria, regardless of how others perform. In contrast, comparing to a normative group or using percentile ranks describes norm-referenced approaches, and saying all such assessments are standardized mixes up administration with the reference framework.