Which of the following statements are true for criterion-referenced evaluation?

(A) It supports formative and diagnostic evaluation
(B) To know individual performance in a well-defined learning task
(C) Typically focuses on a more specific domain of examinee behaviors
(D) To know the relative position/rank of the students in a well-defined known population
(E) To ascertain an individual's status with respect to a defined achievement domain

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is A

Criterion-referenced evaluation refers to assessing learners' performance against a predefined set of criteria or learning standards, rather than comparing their performance to that of other students. The statements that align with this concept are:

• (A) It supports formative and diagnostic evaluation: Formative and diagnostic evaluations are often used in criterion-referenced tests to understand learning progress and identify gaps.

• (B) To know individual performance in a well-defined learning task: Criterion-referenced evaluation focuses on measuring individual performance in specific, predefined tasks, rather than comparing performance among students.

• (C) Typically focuses on a more specific domain of examinee behaviors: It measures specific aspects of a learner's behavior or knowledge in a particular domain, often related to specific tasks or competencies.

• (E) To ascertain an individual's status with respect to a defined achievement domain: This aligns directly with the purpose of criterion-referenced evaluation, which assesses how well a student has achieved defined learning objectives in a particular domain.

Information Booster:

1. Criterion-referenced tests focus on whether a student meets a set standard of performance, rather than ranking students against each other.

2. This method is used in education to gauge how well a student understands a specific topic or meets certain criteria.

3. It differs from norm-referenced tests, which compare students to others in a population.

4. These evaluations often inform instructional decisions and can be used for providing feedback to learners.

5. They are particularly valuable in settings where clear benchmarks or standards of learning are necessary.

6. Examples include exams measuring proficiency in specific subjects, like mathematics or language arts, based on set learning outcomes.

Additional Information:​

(D): Relative rank or position of students is not a primary concern in criterion-referenced evaluations, as the focus is on individual mastery of content, rather than comparison with peers.