Criterion-referenced assessment

Definition

Assessment that test students’ knowledge or skill against a pre-defined standard of performance, target, desirable performance, benchmark, or criterion. In education, CRAs usually are made to determine whether a student has mastered the material taught in a specific grade or course.

Source definition

American Education Research Association (AERA), American Psychological Association (APA), and National Council for Measurement in Education (NCME) (1999). Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.