Norm-referenced tests primarily aim to do what?

Norm-referenced tests are designed to compare a child's performance with that of a larger comparison group, typically a norm group of peers. This allows educators and parents to understand how a child performs relative to others at the same age or grade level, providing insights into the child's strengths and weaknesses in comparison to typically developing peers.

The core purpose of these assessments is to provide context about where a child stands in relation to their peers, thereby facilitating informed decisions about educational interventions, curriculum needs, or developmental concerns. Because the results are based on how a child performs compared to others, this approach can highlight differences in performance that may not be apparent when assessing individual skills in isolation.

In contrast, assessments that assess individual performance against a set standard focus on whether a child meets predetermined benchmarks rather than how they fare relative to peers. Similarly, measuring skills independently of other children would suggest an absolute evaluation, devoid of context regarding how common or rare those skills are among peers. Finally, determining absolute knowledge without comparison does not align with the fundamental goal of norm-referenced testing, which inherently involves a comparative element to assess performance.