assessment: scoring terminology

Question 1

raw score

Answer 1

A score that has not been converted into a derived score.

Question 2

Derived Scores

Answer 2

A converted raw score that gives meaning to test scores by comparing an individual’s score with those of the norm group

Question 3

Normal Distribution

Answer 3

A distribution that forms a bell-shaped curve, with nearly all scores falling close to the average and very few scores falling toward either extreme of the distribution.

Question 4

normal curve (bell curve)

Answer 4

When a normal distribution is graphed, it forms a normal (bell-shaped) curve. The normal curve is symmetrical, with the highest point occurring at the graph’s center. The lowest points lie on either side of the graph. The curve is also asymptotic, meaning that the tail approaches the horizontal axis without ever touching it.

Question 5

norms

Answer 5

The typical score/performance against which all other test scores are evaluated

Question 6

Norm-ReferencedAssessment

Answer 6

A test in which an individual’s score is compared to the average score (i.e., the mean) of the test-taking group

Question 7

criterion-referenced assessment

Answer 7

Provides information about an individual’s score by comparing it to a predetermined standard or set criterion.

Question 8

ipsative assessment

Answer 8

Compares individuals’ test scores to their previous test scores.

Question 9

percentage score

Answer 9

The raw score (i.e., the number of correct items) divided by the total number of test items.

Question 10

Percentile rank

Answer 10

Indicates the percentage of scores falling at or below a given score. Percentile ranks range from less than 1 to greater than 99 and have a median score of 50

Question 11

standardization

Answer 11

The process of converting raw scores to standard scores by finding the typical score attained by a group of test-takers and comparing future scores to the typical score

Question 12

Standardized Scores

Answer 12

Compare individual scores to a norm group through the use of formulas that convert the raw score to a new score. The standardized score specifies the number of standard deviations a score is above or below the mean.

Question 13

z-score

Answer 13

A standardized score for which the distribution has a mean of O and a standard deviation of 1; it represents the number of standard deviation units above or below the mean at which a given score falls.

Question 14

t-score

Answer 14

A type of standardized score that has an adjusted mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10.

Question 15

deviation IQ

Answer 15

A type of standardized score that has a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15.

Question 16

stanine

Answer 16

A type of standard score that divides the normal distribution into nine intervals with a mean of 5 and a standard deviation of 2

Question 17

normal curve equivalent (NCE)

Answer 17

A type of standardized score that ranges from 1 to 99 and has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 21.06

Question 18

Developmental Scores

Answer 18

Scores that put an individual’s raw score along a developmental continuum in order to derive meaning. Developmental scores directly evaluate an individual’s score against the scores of those of the same age or grade level. The two most commonly used types are age-equivalent scores (compare an individual’s score with the average raw score at a certain age) and grade-equivalent scores (compare an individual’s score with the average raw score of those at a certain grade level).