This term may be defined as a

test that determines whether a

student has reached the goals of
the learning task. This task is
specific, observable,
measureable, achievable, and
interpretable.
Are constructed to provide a
measure that is interpreted in
terms of specific performance
criteria. It serves to identify on
what extent the individuals’
performance has met in a given
criterion.
This term may be defined as a
measure which compares a
students’ achievement with
the achievement of other
students in the class.
Distinctions Between
Criterion- Referenced
and norm- Referenced
Measures
1. A criterion- referenced measure – is used
if the purpose is to determine how much
change in terms of behavior of the
learner has taken places before and
after instruction. It is an individual’s
achievement being judged not his
standing in the class. Conventionally, in
norm- referenced measure the
achievement of an individual is judged
by comparing his standing with the other
individuals in the class.
2. The criterion- referenced measure-
determines whether the students has
mastered an instructional objective in
relation to an established standard of
performance.
Norm-referenced measure determines the
comparison of an individual with some
norm groups without knowing what one
can do, has mastered or cannot do.
3. Thecriterion- referenced
measure depends upon an
absolute standard of quality
which is the only criterion to
determine the significance of
individual’s score.
Norm- referenced depends upon a
relative standard of comparing
of an individual with another
individual or which a group of
individuals using the same
measure.
4. Both criterion and norm referenced
measures provide information for
decision- making about individuals.
5. criterion- referenced measure includes
items of reasonable length either the
item is answered by all students or missed
totally, since the purpose is to determine
the mastery of the learning tasks. Norm –
referenced measure discards the easiest
and the most difficult questions since the
purpose is to spread out the individuals as
much as possible in order to know how
one differs from another.
6. criterion- referenced measure
content not known by students
before instruction is given, but
which must be mastered by the time
instruction is given and finished.
Norm referenced measure stresses
content recall. The more the
contents are remembered by the
students the better, since the
purpose is to compare his
achievements to others.
7. In criterion- referenced measure,
all students learn uniformly
regardless of ability level because
each individual learner is permitted
to use as much as possible learning
time is needed. On the other hand,
norm- referenced measure has no
way of identifying whether the slow
learners could have done better if
permitted to use as much learning
time as necessary, because
instructional time is the same for
all students.
STEPS IN THE PREPARATION
OF CRITERION-
REFERENCED MEASURE
Step 1. clearly defining the instructional
objective in behavioral terms. Instructional
objective which are specific, observable,
achievable and interpretable serve as the
criteria in selecting that is to be learned.
Ex. Given 10 pieces of different kinds of
leaves, pencil and paper, a grade V pupil will
be able to identify, differentiate, and classify
monocot leaves and dicot leaves.
a. Audience
b. Behavior
c. Conditions
d. Degree of performances
Step 2. outlining the content. A
teacher should make an outline
of the content to be covered by
the test because an
achievement test should
adequately sample the subject
matter included in-the
instruction.
Step 3. preparing the table of
specifications. A table of
specification is one-way table
that relates the instructional
objectives to the course content.
Step 4. constructing the relevant test items. In
constructing the relevant test items, the
instructional objective and criterion measure
related with each other.
Ex. Instructional objective: recognizes basic
concepts
learning outcome: identifies concepts
test item: which of the following
modifies the adjective, noun or another adverb?
1. beauty
2. pretty
3. beautifully
4. besutiful