Norm reference grading compares a student's performance to others in the class, ranking them based on achievement levels. It is easy for instructors to use and works well for differentiating students, though a student's grade depends on others' performance as well. Criterion reference grading compares a student's performance to specified standards rather than other students. It is more likely to encourage collaboration, though standards can be difficult to set and often resemble norm reference systems. Both approaches provide examples of grading scales that divide students into performance levels based on percentages or score ranges.

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Presented by:
DULCE AMOR B. CRUZ
MAEd

15. Norm reference
• Reflect relative performance
Score compared to other students or ranking
performance.
“Where you rank”

16. Advantages of norm reference
• They are easy for instructors to use
• They work well in situations requiring rigid
differentiation among students.
• They are generally appropriate in large
course.

17. Disadvantages of norm reference
• An individual’s grade is determined
not only by his/her achievements, but
also by the achievement of others.

18. Example of norm reference
• 15% of the students will receive a mark of
excellence, which in class of 100 enrolled
students will be 15 persons.
1.0 (excellent) = top 15% of the class
1.5 (good) = next 15% of the class
2.0 (average) = next 45% of the class
3.0 (poor, pass) = next 15% of the class
5.0 (failure) = bottom 10 % of the class

23. Criterion reference
• Reflect absolute performance
Score is compared to specified standards
“what you can do”

24. Advantages of criterion reference
• Students are not competing with each
other
• Students are thus more likely to actively
help each other learn
• A student’s grade is not influence by the
caliber of the class

25. Disadvantages of criterion reference
• It is difficult to set a reasonable standard for
students.
• Most experience faculty set criteria based on
their knowledge of how students usually
perform
• Often become fairly similar to norm
reference system

26. Example of criterion reference
• In a class of 100 students, no one might get a
grade of excellent if no one scores 98 above or
85 above depending on the criterion used.
1.0 (excellent) = 98-100 or 85-100
1.5 (good) = 88-97 or 80-84
2.0 (average) = 75-87 or 70-84
3.0 (poor, pass) = 65-74 or 60-69
5.0 (failure) = below 65 or below 60