Education K-12 Educational Assessment & Testing

Question 1

What is the difference between norm-referenced and criterion-referenced assessments?

Accepted Answer

Norm-referenced tests compare students to a norming group; criterion-referenced tests measure mastery of defined standards

Answer

Norm-referenced tests (e.g., SAT) rank students relative to peers; criterion-referenced tests (e.g., state exams) measure against a fixed standard.

Question 2

What does 'validity' mean in educational assessment?

Accepted Answer

The degree to which a test measures what it claims to measure

Answer

Validity refers to the accuracy of inferences drawn from test scores — does the test actually measure the intended construct?

Question 3

What does 'reliability' mean in educational assessment?

Accepted Answer

The consistency of test scores across repeated administrations or different raters

Answer

Reliability means a test produces stable, consistent results — if given twice under the same conditions, scores should be similar.

Question 4

What is a 'summative assessment'?

Accepted Answer

An assessment administered at the end of a unit or course to evaluate overall learning

Answer

Summative assessments evaluate cumulative learning at the end of an instructional period and are often used for grading.

Question 5

What is a 'portfolio assessment'?

Accepted Answer

A collection of student work over time used to demonstrate growth and achievement

Answer

Portfolios compile student artifacts across a period of time to provide evidence of learning, growth, and self-reflection.

Education K-12 Practice Test