National Evaluation Series (NES) Assessment of Professional Knowledge Practice Test

Mr. Stites gives a unit test to determine how well students understand the concepts of the unit on the Periodic Table. What best describes the test?

1. Formal assessment

2. Diagnostic assessment

3. Formative assessment

4. Criterion-referenced assessment

The correct answer is: Criterion-referenced assessment

The unit test administered by Mr. Stites is best described as a criterion-referenced assessment. This type of assessment evaluates students' performance against a predefined set of criteria or learning standards rather than comparing students against one another. In this scenario, the unit test specifically measures how well students understand the concepts related to the Periodic Table according to established objectives. Criterion-referenced assessments are designed to indicate whether students have achieved certain levels of understanding or competence in a specific subject area, which aligns with the purpose of the unit test in assessing comprehension of the content. The focus on demonstrating mastery of the specific concepts rather than ranking students makes this assessment particularly effective for gauging individual students' understanding of the material. In contrast, other assessment types, such as formative assessments, are typically ongoing and take place during the learning process to guide instruction. Diagnostic assessments aim to identify students' strengths and weaknesses before instruction begins. These types serve different functions than what is accomplished with the unit test in this context.