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D184 / D 184 Pre-Assessment (WGU) |
Standard-Based Assessment
2026/2027 | Verified Questions &
Answers | Grade A
Question :
What is a benefit of a standards-based grading system for high-achieving students?
Instruction can be easily adjusted to provide new, more complex learning targets.
It is easy to keep high-achieving students motivated with high scores on most
assignments.
High-achieving students can be identified easily by comparing student scores.
It is easy to create special assignments and extra credit opportunities for high-achieving
students.
Answer
Instruction can be easily adjusted to provide new, more complex learning targets.
Question :
How is a narrative-based system different than a standards-based grading system?
The narrative grading system uses proficiency scores to a great extent, but the
standards-based grading system does not.
The standards-based grading system uses proficiency scores, but the narrative grading
system does not.
The narrative grading system is used to determine proficiency scores for written tasks,
while the standards-based system is used for other performance tasks.
The standards-based system is used to report state-level proficiency scores, while the
narrative grading system is used for informal evaluations.
Answer
The standards-based grading system uses proficiency scores, but the narrative grading
system does not.
Question :
Which factor distinguishes norm-referenced grading from standards-based grading?
Grade point average (GPA)
Performance of the rest of the class
,Definition of grading standards
State accountability standards
Answer
Performance of the rest of the class
Question :
What is a benefit of using standards-based grading compared to norm-referenced
grading?
Standards-based grading provides more feedback than norm-referenced grading.
Standards-based grading is more open to adjustments in instruction than norm-
referenced grading.
Standards-based grading is easier for score users to understand than norm-referenced
grading.
Standards-based grading is more focused on the learning targets than norm-referenced
grading.
Answer
Standards-based grading is more focused on the learning targets than norm-referenced
grading.
Question :
Why do teachers only grade student work related to the achievement of learning targets
in standards-based grading systems?
Behaviors like participation and attendance are too subjective to grade.
Behaviors like participation and attendance are not as important as learning targets.
Teachers are able to help students focus on learning goals and track their progress.
Teachers are able to assign more assessments and provide more frequent feedback.
Answer
Teachers are able to help students focus on learning goals and track their progress.
Question :
A grading scale reflects the following details:
4 achievement levels — Advanced
3 achievement levels — Meets expectations
2 achievement levels — Partial mastery1 achievement level — Little or no mastery
Which grading system does this grading scale represent?
Answer
Norm-referenced grading
Standards-based grading
Criterion-referenced grading
Percentage-based grading
Standards-based grading
, Question :
How do standards-based grading systems support struggling students compared to
other common grading systems?
By giving fewer summative assessments
By focusing on positive feedback rather than negative feedback
By allowing students to redo lessons and assignments as many times as necessary
By providing many easy-to-master assignments
By allowing students to redo lessons and assignments as many times as necessary
Question :
What is one difference between using criterion-referenced scoring in standards-based
grading systems as opposed to using norm-referenced scoring?
Criterion-referenced scoring is easier to use when determining class rank than norm-
referenced scoring.
Criterion-referenced scoring is not used on standardized tests, while norm-referenced
scoring is.
Criterion-referenced scoring uses standards that are easier to adjust than those used in
norm-referenced scoring.
Criterion-referenced scoring measures student progress toward mastery of specific
criteria, while norm-referenced scoring measures progress relative to percentiles.
Answer
Criterion-referenced scoring measures student progress toward mastery of specific
criteria, while norm-referenced scoring measures progress relative to percentiles.
Question :
What is a criticism of standards-based grading systems?
They do not reflect students' proficiency in soft skills such as time management and
creativity.
They do not account for student behavior issues, so classroom management is more
challenging.
They reduce the level of complexity to oversimplified learning targets, so students are
not challenged enough.
They require more one-on-one instruction, which is not realistic for schools without
block schedules.
Answer
They do not reflect students' proficiency in soft skills such as time management and
creativity.
Question :
Which problematic assessment practice does standards-based grading help teachers
avoid?
Sampling one individual standard rather than multiple standards
Merging state and district standards
D184 / D 184 Pre-Assessment (WGU) |
Standard-Based Assessment
2026/2027 | Verified Questions &
Answers | Grade A
Question :
What is a benefit of a standards-based grading system for high-achieving students?
Instruction can be easily adjusted to provide new, more complex learning targets.
It is easy to keep high-achieving students motivated with high scores on most
assignments.
High-achieving students can be identified easily by comparing student scores.
It is easy to create special assignments and extra credit opportunities for high-achieving
students.
Answer
Instruction can be easily adjusted to provide new, more complex learning targets.
Question :
How is a narrative-based system different than a standards-based grading system?
The narrative grading system uses proficiency scores to a great extent, but the
standards-based grading system does not.
The standards-based grading system uses proficiency scores, but the narrative grading
system does not.
The narrative grading system is used to determine proficiency scores for written tasks,
while the standards-based system is used for other performance tasks.
The standards-based system is used to report state-level proficiency scores, while the
narrative grading system is used for informal evaluations.
Answer
The standards-based grading system uses proficiency scores, but the narrative grading
system does not.
Question :
Which factor distinguishes norm-referenced grading from standards-based grading?
Grade point average (GPA)
Performance of the rest of the class
,Definition of grading standards
State accountability standards
Answer
Performance of the rest of the class
Question :
What is a benefit of using standards-based grading compared to norm-referenced
grading?
Standards-based grading provides more feedback than norm-referenced grading.
Standards-based grading is more open to adjustments in instruction than norm-
referenced grading.
Standards-based grading is easier for score users to understand than norm-referenced
grading.
Standards-based grading is more focused on the learning targets than norm-referenced
grading.
Answer
Standards-based grading is more focused on the learning targets than norm-referenced
grading.
Question :
Why do teachers only grade student work related to the achievement of learning targets
in standards-based grading systems?
Behaviors like participation and attendance are too subjective to grade.
Behaviors like participation and attendance are not as important as learning targets.
Teachers are able to help students focus on learning goals and track their progress.
Teachers are able to assign more assessments and provide more frequent feedback.
Answer
Teachers are able to help students focus on learning goals and track their progress.
Question :
A grading scale reflects the following details:
4 achievement levels — Advanced
3 achievement levels — Meets expectations
2 achievement levels — Partial mastery1 achievement level — Little or no mastery
Which grading system does this grading scale represent?
Answer
Norm-referenced grading
Standards-based grading
Criterion-referenced grading
Percentage-based grading
Standards-based grading
, Question :
How do standards-based grading systems support struggling students compared to
other common grading systems?
By giving fewer summative assessments
By focusing on positive feedback rather than negative feedback
By allowing students to redo lessons and assignments as many times as necessary
By providing many easy-to-master assignments
By allowing students to redo lessons and assignments as many times as necessary
Question :
What is one difference between using criterion-referenced scoring in standards-based
grading systems as opposed to using norm-referenced scoring?
Criterion-referenced scoring is easier to use when determining class rank than norm-
referenced scoring.
Criterion-referenced scoring is not used on standardized tests, while norm-referenced
scoring is.
Criterion-referenced scoring uses standards that are easier to adjust than those used in
norm-referenced scoring.
Criterion-referenced scoring measures student progress toward mastery of specific
criteria, while norm-referenced scoring measures progress relative to percentiles.
Answer
Criterion-referenced scoring measures student progress toward mastery of specific
criteria, while norm-referenced scoring measures progress relative to percentiles.
Question :
What is a criticism of standards-based grading systems?
They do not reflect students' proficiency in soft skills such as time management and
creativity.
They do not account for student behavior issues, so classroom management is more
challenging.
They reduce the level of complexity to oversimplified learning targets, so students are
not challenged enough.
They require more one-on-one instruction, which is not realistic for schools without
block schedules.
Answer
They do not reflect students' proficiency in soft skills such as time management and
creativity.
Question :
Which problematic assessment practice does standards-based grading help teachers
avoid?
Sampling one individual standard rather than multiple standards
Merging state and district standards
