Norm-referenced testing relies on comparison to what kind of sample?

• A. A normative sample representing a population.
• B. An expert-judged standard set.
• C. The individual’s own past performance.
• D. A fixed criterion that does not change.

Answer: (A)

Norm-referenced testing interprets an individual’s performance by comparing it to a normative sample that represents the population. This reference group provides the distribution (average performance and variation) so you can determine where someone stands relative to peers—often expressed as percentiles or standard scores. The aim is to show how a person compares to others of the same age or group, not whether they have achieved a fixed level of mastery.

Why this fits better here: the whole point of a norm-referenced approach is relative ranking within a representative group. In contrast, using a fixed criterion or an expert-set standard would judge against an absolute threshold, not relative to peers, and comparing to one’s own past performance would measure growth over time rather than where the person sits in the population.