Which statement best describes language sample characteristics?

• A. They are criterion-referenced and provide qualitative and quantitative data and are more sensitive than norm-referenced assessments.
• B. They are norm-referenced and provide only qualitative data.
• C. They are standardized and provide only quantitative data.
• D. They are not useful in language assessment.

Answer: (A)

Language samples assess how language is used in real communication and are best understood as criterion-referenced tools. They provide a rich mix of data: qualitative aspects that describe how ideas are organized, connected, and conveyed in discourse, and quantitative measures such as mean length of utterance, lexical diversity, and rate of/dialogue features. Because they capture spontaneous, functional language, they often reveal strengths and weaknesses that standardized, norm-referenced tests may miss, making them more sensitive to communication differences in everyday contexts. They aren’t standardized or norm-referenced, and they don’t limit you to one type of data; instead, they offer a fuller, ecologically valid picture of language use.