What is a norm-referenced test designed to do?

A norm-referenced test is specifically designed to evaluate an individual's performance in comparison to a specific group, referred to as the norming group. This approach allows educators and evaluators to understand how a student’s score relates to the scores of other students who took the same test. The primary purpose of a norm-referenced test is to rank students, determining who performed better or worse relative to their peers, thus providing insight into a student's academic standing on a broader scale.

This comparison facilitates the identification of strengths and weaknesses within an individual student’s performance, highlighting areas for potential improvement or intervention. It can be useful in making decisions about educational placements or in identifying students in need of additional support based on relative performance metrics.

While other options may address different aspects of assessment, only the second choice directly captures the core intent of a norm-referenced test in educational contexts. The additional provided choices reflect various types of assessments that focus on performance, behavior, or qualitative input rather than the comparative analysis central to norm-referenced testing.