What type of assessments are designed to measure whether a student has achieved specific learning objectives?

Criterion-referenced assessments are specifically designed to measure whether a student has achieved specific learning objectives by comparing a student's performance against a defined set of criteria or standards. These assessments provide information about what a student can do in relation to the established goals.

For example, if a learning objective is for students to demonstrate proficiency in a particular mathematical skill, a criterion-referenced assessment would test that specific skill and indicate whether students have met, exceeded, or fell short of the benchmark for proficiency.

This focus on aligning assessment outcomes with specific educational standards differentiates criterion-referenced assessments from other types. Normative assessments, on the other hand, compare a student's performance to that of a larger group, while summative assessments evaluate overall learning at the end of an instructional period, and formative assessments are ongoing checks aimed at improving student learning during the learning process. Each of these has its own purpose but does not specifically target the achievement of defined objectives in the same direct manner as criterion-referenced assessments.