What is a norm-referenced criterion?

What is a norm-referenced criterion?

• A. It is a method that relies on comparing an applicant's scores with the performance of a reference group.
• B. It establishes fixed minimum passing scores.
• C. It is based on expert judgment alone.
• D. It measures the time to complete the test.

Answer: (A)

Norm-referenced means judging a score by comparing where a person stands relative to a reference group. The idea is to see how an applicant performed compared with others, often yielding percentile ranks or relative positions within the group. This approach emphasizes relative standing rather than whether a fixed level of mastery was reached.

This is the best fit because it explicitly describes scoring based on comparison to a reference group, which is the essence of norm-referenced criteria. It’s different from using a fixed passing score (criterion-referenced), from relying solely on expert judgment (which is subjective), or from measuring how long it takes to complete the test (which relates to speed, not scoring basis).