Which type of assessment measures students according to preset standards rather than comparing them to peers?

• A. Formative Assessment
• B. Criterion-referenced test
• C. Formal Assessment
• D. Performance

Answer: (B)

Measuring students against preset standards rather than against peers is characteristic of a criterion-referenced assessment. In this approach, the test is built around specific criteria that define mastery, so each student’s score shows which standards they have met and to what degree. It answers “Did I meet the standard?” rather than “How do I compare to others?” That makes the results about individual achievement relative to the defined criteria. The other terms describe different ideas: formative assessment is about ongoing checks to guide learning, formal assessment refers to structured, official testing conditions, and performance focuses on demonstrating skills or products; none inherently centers on fixed standards in the same way.