FTCE Physical Education K-12 Practice Test

Norm-referenced tests compare an individual's score to what?

1. A predetermined standard

2. Scores from teacher-made assessments

3. Scores of peers

4. National averages in physical education

The correct answer is: Scores of peers

Norm-referenced tests are designed to evaluate an individual's performance in relation to the performance of a larger group, often referred to as the norm group, which typically consists of peers. The primary purpose of these tests is to assess how an individual stacks up against others within the same demographic or population, providing a way to compare their skills or abilities within a context of similar participants. By using scores from peers, norm-referenced assessments can highlight where an individual stands in relation to typical performance levels. This can be particularly useful in educational settings, where it helps educators understand a student's performance relative to their classmates or others in the same age group. In contrast, predetermined standards or specific criteria (as would be used in criterion-referenced tests), teacher-made assessments, or national averages do not provide a comparative framework based on a distribution of scores from a peer group. Thus, the focus of norm-referenced tests is distinctly centered on the individual's standing among their peers rather than on a fixed standard or average performance metrics.