Which type of assessment provides data such as percentile levels, stanine scores, and standard scores?

• A. Curriculum-based assessments
• B. Formative evaluations
• C. Standardized tests
• D. Rating scale surveys

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is how different assessments report student performance using norm-referenced metrics. Standardized tests are designed to be given in the same way to everyone and scored against a common norm group. From that norm-based data you get percentile levels (how a student compares to others in the norm group), stanine scores (nine broad bands that divide performance into equal parts, centered around a mean), and standard scores (scores that show how far a student’s performance deviates from the average, often in units of standard deviation). These formats make it possible to compare performance across different tests and populations.

Curriculum-based assessments are typically aligned to classroom goals and yield raw scores or percentages that indicate mastery relative to specific curriculum criteria, not normative comparisons. Formative evaluations focus on progress toward learning goals and provide feedback to guide instruction, rather than reporting norm-referenced statistics. Rating scale surveys capture observations about behavior or attitudes and produce categorical or scaled ratings rather than standardized normative data.