Norm Referenced, Criterion

Referenced and Paper and Pencil

Test
Kimberly Salem
CPE- A
Norm Referenced Vs. Criterion Referenced Test
- It is usual practice to refer to
tests, exams, and assessments as
Norm-Referenced and Criterion-
Referenced, respectively. When
learning about assessment and
psychometrics, these are
frequently among the first ideas
students encounter.
Norm- Referenced Test
What is a Norm-Referenced Test?
● A norm-referenced test
is a type of assessment
used in education that
allows teachers to
compare a student’s
results to someone else
in their peer group.
 Norm-Referenced Test Examples
- Norm-referenced tests, sometimes
called NRTs, utilize multiple-choice
format and some open-ended
questions to obtain results.
Scholastic Assessment Tests
(SATs) and Graduate Record
Examinations (GREs) may be
considered examples of norm-
referenced tests.
 Norm-Referenced Test in the Philippines
- The National Achievement Test
(NAT) is a standardized set of
examinations taken in the
Philippines by students in Grades
3, 6, 10, and 12. The test is
designed to determine their
academic levels, strength and
weaknesses, as well as their
knowledge learnt in major subjects
throughout the year.
Criterion-Referenced
Test
What is a Criterion-Referenced Test?
● Criterion-referenced tests compare a
person’s knowledge or skills against a
predetermined standard, learning goal,
performance level, or other criterion.
With criterion-referenced tests, each
person’s performance is compared
directly to the standard, without
considering how other students perform
on the test.
 Criterion-Referenced Test Examples
- Criterion-referenced
assessment examples include
driving tests, end-of-unit
exams in school, clinical skill
competency tools, etc.
- Criterion-referenced tests
also include those
administered in school or
college by an instructor in a
classroom setting.
Key Points
Paper and Pencil Test
 What is a Paper and Pencil Test?
- Paper-and-pencil test refer to a
general group of assessment
tools in which candidates read
questions and respond in
writing. This includes tests, such
as knowledge and ability tests,
and inventories, such as
personality and interest
inventories.
Developing a Paper and Pencil Test
1. Listing topic areas

For each knowledge area that will be assessed by the test, list
the topic areas to be covered. Check off any critical topic areas
that are particularly important to the course or subject.
- For example, the topic areas that will be covered for us to
pass this course include Psychological tests, psychometrics,
test construction, test standardization, psychological
constructs and their measurements and applications to
computer programming.
 Developing a Paper and Pencil Test
2. Specifying the response format, number of questions, the time limit and
difficulty level

Prior to writing the questions for your test, you should decide on such things as
the response format, the number of questions, the time limit and the difficulty
level.

The three most common response formats are:

• (a) multiple-choice;

• (b) short answer; and

• (c) essay.
 Developing a Paper and Pencil Test
(a) Multiple-choice

With a multiple-choice response format, a large number of different topic

areas can be covered within the same test and the questions are easy to
score. However, because all potential answers must be chosen by some
students, it is time-consuming to write good questions.

(b) Short-answer

With a short-answer response format, a large number of different topic

areas can be covered within the same test and these questions are easy to
score. In addition, less time is required to write these questions compared to
multiple-choice ones.
 Developing a Paper and Pencil Test
(c) Essay

With an essay response format, only a few topic areas can be

covered due to the amount of time it takes to answer questions;
however, the content can be covered in greater detail. Essay
questions require little time to write but they are very time-
consuming to score.
 Developing a Paper and Pencil Test
3. Writing the questions and developing the scoring guide.

All questions should tap meaningful information. Also, the level of language
used for the questions should be appropriate for the students to fully
understand. The questions do not have to always be expressed verbally.
Diagrams, graphs, or tables may be incorporated into a question where
useful.

(a) Multiple-choice

The scoring guide for multiple-choice questions must include a scoring key
indicating the correct answer and it may also include a rationale for or
explanation of the correct answer. If marks are to be deducted for guessing,
this must be determined and stated in the instructions to students.
 Developing a Paper and Pencil Test
(b) Short-answer

The scoring guide for short-answer questions should include predetermined

scoring procedures and mark allocations. Each required point in the answer
should be listed with its relative mark allocation.

(c) Essay

The scoring guide for essay questions should include predetermined scoring
procedures and mark allocations. The major points of the answer should be
listed with their relative mark allocation. If marks are to be deducted for
incorrect grammar, spelling and punctuation, this must be stated in the
instructions to students.
Developing a Paper and Pencil Test
4. Reviewing questions and scoring guide.

Have the questions and scoring guide reviewed by senior

colleague or any other teacher familiar with the Course or
Subject. Have them confirm that the questions are answerable
and not too difficult or not too easy, and that it conforms to the
course outline provided at the beginning of the programme.
Also have them make necessary grammatical corrections and
edit any ambiguous, inappropriate or misleading content.
Advantages of Paper and Pencil Test
1. A large number of different topic areas can be covered within the same
test.

2. The questions are easy to score.

3. Paper and pencil are easily portable and can be used in any setting.

4. It is manual in nature i.e.you don't need electricity or batteries to use

paper and pencil.

5. You don’t need any computer skills to write a paper pencil test. The only
skills needed is reading and writing skills.

6. It is very flexible and cheap to set up.

Disadvantages of Paper and Pencil Test

1. It is time-consuming to write good questions.

2. It takes time to evaluate

3. There is high chances of malpractice in this type of test

4. There is possible human error in the grading system

END