What type of assessments compare a student's skills to a defined set of criteria for mastery?

The selected answer is accurate because criterion-referenced assessments evaluate a student's performance against a specific set of predefined standards or criteria, rather than comparing their performance to that of peers. This type of assessment provides a clear measure of what a student can do, focusing on whether they have achieved specific learning goals or competencies.

Criterion-referenced assessments are valuable in educational settings because they help educators identify areas of strength and areas that need improvement for each student based on these established criteria. They often take the form of tests that align closely with the curriculum standards, enabling teachers to determine if students have mastered the required skills or knowledge.

In contrast, other types of assessments have different focuses. Screening assessments are typically used to identify at-risk students or those who may need further evaluation. Formative assessments are ongoing assessments meant to monitor student learning and provide feedback during the instructional process, helping to inform teaching methods and adjustments. Summative assessments, on the other hand, evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional period, measuring overall achievement but without the specific focus on mastery of defined criteria.