D187 ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
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. - CORRECT ANSWER - Instruction can be easily adjusted to provide new, more complex
learning targets.
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. - CORRECT ANSWER - The standards-based
grading system uses proficiency scores, but the narrative grading system does not.
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 - CORRECT ANSWER - Performance of the rest of the class
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.
- CORRECT ANSWER - Standards-based grading is more focused on the learning targets than
norm-referenced grading.
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. - CORRECT
ANSWER - Teachers are able to help students focus on learning goals and track their progress.
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?
, Norm-referenced grading
Standards-based grading
Criterion-referenced grading
Percentage-based grading - CORRECT ANSWER - Standards-based grading
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 - CORRECT ANSWER - By allowing students to
redo lessons and assignments as many times as necessary
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. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Criterion-referenced scoring measures student progress toward mastery of specific criteria,
while norm-referenced scoring measures progress relative to percentiles.
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
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. - CORRECT ANSWER - Instruction can be easily adjusted to provide new, more complex
learning targets.
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. - CORRECT ANSWER - The standards-based
grading system uses proficiency scores, but the narrative grading system does not.
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 - CORRECT ANSWER - Performance of the rest of the class
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.
- CORRECT ANSWER - Standards-based grading is more focused on the learning targets than
norm-referenced grading.
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. - CORRECT
ANSWER - Teachers are able to help students focus on learning goals and track their progress.
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?
, Norm-referenced grading
Standards-based grading
Criterion-referenced grading
Percentage-based grading - CORRECT ANSWER - Standards-based grading
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 - CORRECT ANSWER - By allowing students to
redo lessons and assignments as many times as necessary
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. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Criterion-referenced scoring measures student progress toward mastery of specific criteria,
while norm-referenced scoring measures progress relative to percentiles.
