Assessment Matrix

Assessment Matrix

Dionne Golden

Grand Canyon University: SPE359

9/6/2015

| Criterion-ReferencedTests | Norm-ReferencedTests |

Descriptions | Criterion-Reference Test are designed to measure student performance with a fixed set of criteria. | Norm-Reference Test refers to standardized test that are designed to compare and rank students in relation to one another. |

Purpose of Tests | Criterion-Referenced Tests is used to determine if each individual student has achieved a specific skill or concept. The goal is to get a glimpse of the student’s knowledge before instruction begins and after it has finished. (Bond, 1996) | Norm-Reference Test rank students with the respect of achievement of others students in broad areas of knowledge. The goal is to discriminate between high and low achievers. (Bond, 1996) |

Content | Measures specific skills which make up a designated curriculum. These skills are identified by teachers and curriculum experts. (Popham, 1975) | Measures broad skill areas sampled from a variety of textbooks, syllabi, and the judgments of curriculum experts. (Popham, 1975) |

Characteristics | Each skill is tested by at least four items in order to obtain an adequate sample of student performance and to minimize the effect of guessing. The items which test any given skill are parallel in difficulty. | Each skill is usually tested by less than four items. Items vary in difficulty. Items are selected that discriminate between high and low achievers |

Pros | Better suited to measuring learning progress.Provides information to improve teaching and school performance.Do not compare the relative performance of students.Evaluates achievement against a common and consistently applied set of criteria.Applies the same learning standards to all students. Uses open-ended questions and tasks that require students to use higher-level cognitive skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, reasoning, analysis, or interpretation. Combination of...