What is a key characteristic of a criterion-referenced assessment?

A key characteristic of a criterion-referenced assessment is that it evaluates a student's performance against a set standard. This type of assessment measures students’ knowledge or skills relative to predetermined criteria or learning objectives, rather than comparing their performance to that of other students. The focus is on whether each individual meets specific expectations or benchmarks, which allows educators to determine who has mastered the content and who has not, regardless of how other students performed.

In contrast to norm-referenced assessments, which rank students against their peers, criterion-referenced assessments emphasize mastery of learning goals. This approach helps in understanding individual student progress and ensures that all students have the opportunity to achieve the same educational outcomes, focusing on the attainment of specific knowledge or competencies rather than overall class performance.