WGU D659 OA ACTUAL EXAM LATEST
UPDATE MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
COVERED ALREADY GRADED A+ | 2026
COMPLETE GUIDE
University: Western Governors University (WGU)
Course Code: D659
Course Title: Assessing and Monitoring Student Learning
Exam Type: Objective Assessment (OA) Final Exam
Updated For: 2025/2026 Academic Year
EXAM OVERVIEW
The WGU D659 Objective Assessment (OA) covers essential concepts in student assessment,
including formative and summative evaluation methods, data interpretation for instructional
adjustment, alignment of assessments with learning objectives, and principles of validity and
reliability . The exam tests candidates' ability to analyze assessment data and make appropriate
instructional decisions.
SECTION A: TYPES OF ASSESSMENT (Questions 1-25)
Question 1:
When a teacher uses quick exit tickets at the end of a lesson to check for student understanding
and adjust the next lesson accordingly, what type of assessment is this?
A) Summative assessment
B) Norm-referenced assessment
C) Formative assessment
D) Diagnostic assessment
Answer: C
Rationale: Formative assessment is used during the learning process to gauge student
understanding and guide further learning. Exit tickets are a classic example of formative
assessment because they provide immediate feedback to inform instruction .
,Question 2:
A district administers an annual standardized reading test to determine how well schools are
meeting state benchmarks at the end of the year. What kind of assessment is this best
described as?
A) Summative assessment
B) Formative assessment
C) Informal assessment
D) Ipsative assessment
Answer: A
Rationale: Summative assessment is a tool for evaluating student learning at specific points,
such as at the end of a unit, semester, or academic year. This type of assessment is often called
"assessment of learning" .
Question 3:
A teacher compares one student's essay scores across multiple semesters to determine if they
are improving compared only to their own past work. What type of assessment is this?
A) Norm-referenced assessment
B) Ipsative assessment
C) Criterion-referenced assessment
D) Diagnostic assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: Ipsative assessment compares a student's current performance to their own past
performance, measuring growth over time rather than comparing to peers or fixed standards .
Question 4:
Before starting a new science unit, a teacher administers a pre-test to find out what prior
knowledge students already have about ecosystems. What is this type of assessment?
A) Diagnostic assessment
B) Summative assessment
C) Norm-referenced assessment
D) Criterion-referenced assessment
,Answer: A
Rationale: Diagnostic assessment is used at the beginning of instruction to identify students'
prior knowledge, strengths, weaknesses, and potential difficulties before teaching begins .
Question 5:
When a teacher observes students during group work, takes notes about participation, and uses
that information to guide future lessons, which type of assessment is being used?
A) Informal assessment
B) Summative assessment
C) Standardized testing
D) Norm-referenced testing
Answer: A
Rationale: Informal assessments are more flexible and spontaneous, occurring during everyday
classroom activities such as observation, questioning, and discussion .
Question 6:
A teacher uses a rubric aligned to state standards to grade student essays fairly and
consistently. What type of assessment is this an example of?
A) Criterion-referenced assessment
B) Norm-referenced assessment
C) Ipsative assessment
D) Informal observation
Answer: A
Rationale: Criterion-referenced assessment measures student performance against
predetermined standards or criteria, not against other students. Rubrics aligned to state
standards exemplify this approach .
Question 7:
A student's test score shows how they rank compared to all other students in the state. What
assessment type does this best represent?
, A) Norm-referenced
B) Criterion-referenced
C) Ipsative
D) Informal
Answer: A
Rationale: Norm-referenced assessment compares a student's performance to that of a peer
group, reporting results as percentiles or rankings. Standardized tests often use
norm-referenced interpretation .
Question 8:
"A student's score is compared only to their own past performance." This statement best
describes which type of assessment?
A) Norm-referenced
B) Criterion-referenced
C) Ipsative
D) Summative
Answer: C
Rationale: Ipsative assessment is defined by comparing a learner's current performance to their
own previous performance, tracking growth and improvement over time rather than comparing
to external standards or peers .
Question 9:
A state-level standardized science test that measures student performance against established
proficiency levels is an example of:
A) Norm-referenced assessment
B) Criterion-referenced assessment
C) Ipsative assessment
D) Diagnostic assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: When student performance is measured against predetermined proficiency levels or
standards (e.g., "proficient," "basic," "advanced"), this is criterion-referenced assessment .
UPDATE MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
COVERED ALREADY GRADED A+ | 2026
COMPLETE GUIDE
University: Western Governors University (WGU)
Course Code: D659
Course Title: Assessing and Monitoring Student Learning
Exam Type: Objective Assessment (OA) Final Exam
Updated For: 2025/2026 Academic Year
EXAM OVERVIEW
The WGU D659 Objective Assessment (OA) covers essential concepts in student assessment,
including formative and summative evaluation methods, data interpretation for instructional
adjustment, alignment of assessments with learning objectives, and principles of validity and
reliability . The exam tests candidates' ability to analyze assessment data and make appropriate
instructional decisions.
SECTION A: TYPES OF ASSESSMENT (Questions 1-25)
Question 1:
When a teacher uses quick exit tickets at the end of a lesson to check for student understanding
and adjust the next lesson accordingly, what type of assessment is this?
A) Summative assessment
B) Norm-referenced assessment
C) Formative assessment
D) Diagnostic assessment
Answer: C
Rationale: Formative assessment is used during the learning process to gauge student
understanding and guide further learning. Exit tickets are a classic example of formative
assessment because they provide immediate feedback to inform instruction .
,Question 2:
A district administers an annual standardized reading test to determine how well schools are
meeting state benchmarks at the end of the year. What kind of assessment is this best
described as?
A) Summative assessment
B) Formative assessment
C) Informal assessment
D) Ipsative assessment
Answer: A
Rationale: Summative assessment is a tool for evaluating student learning at specific points,
such as at the end of a unit, semester, or academic year. This type of assessment is often called
"assessment of learning" .
Question 3:
A teacher compares one student's essay scores across multiple semesters to determine if they
are improving compared only to their own past work. What type of assessment is this?
A) Norm-referenced assessment
B) Ipsative assessment
C) Criterion-referenced assessment
D) Diagnostic assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: Ipsative assessment compares a student's current performance to their own past
performance, measuring growth over time rather than comparing to peers or fixed standards .
Question 4:
Before starting a new science unit, a teacher administers a pre-test to find out what prior
knowledge students already have about ecosystems. What is this type of assessment?
A) Diagnostic assessment
B) Summative assessment
C) Norm-referenced assessment
D) Criterion-referenced assessment
,Answer: A
Rationale: Diagnostic assessment is used at the beginning of instruction to identify students'
prior knowledge, strengths, weaknesses, and potential difficulties before teaching begins .
Question 5:
When a teacher observes students during group work, takes notes about participation, and uses
that information to guide future lessons, which type of assessment is being used?
A) Informal assessment
B) Summative assessment
C) Standardized testing
D) Norm-referenced testing
Answer: A
Rationale: Informal assessments are more flexible and spontaneous, occurring during everyday
classroom activities such as observation, questioning, and discussion .
Question 6:
A teacher uses a rubric aligned to state standards to grade student essays fairly and
consistently. What type of assessment is this an example of?
A) Criterion-referenced assessment
B) Norm-referenced assessment
C) Ipsative assessment
D) Informal observation
Answer: A
Rationale: Criterion-referenced assessment measures student performance against
predetermined standards or criteria, not against other students. Rubrics aligned to state
standards exemplify this approach .
Question 7:
A student's test score shows how they rank compared to all other students in the state. What
assessment type does this best represent?
, A) Norm-referenced
B) Criterion-referenced
C) Ipsative
D) Informal
Answer: A
Rationale: Norm-referenced assessment compares a student's performance to that of a peer
group, reporting results as percentiles or rankings. Standardized tests often use
norm-referenced interpretation .
Question 8:
"A student's score is compared only to their own past performance." This statement best
describes which type of assessment?
A) Norm-referenced
B) Criterion-referenced
C) Ipsative
D) Summative
Answer: C
Rationale: Ipsative assessment is defined by comparing a learner's current performance to their
own previous performance, tracking growth and improvement over time rather than comparing
to external standards or peers .
Question 9:
A state-level standardized science test that measures student performance against established
proficiency levels is an example of:
A) Norm-referenced assessment
B) Criterion-referenced assessment
C) Ipsative assessment
D) Diagnostic assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: When student performance is measured against predetermined proficiency levels or
standards (e.g., "proficient," "basic," "advanced"), this is criterion-referenced assessment .
