WGU D184 OA PREASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 100%
CORRECT RATED A+ || UPDATED 2026
What is a benefit of a standards-based grading system for high-achieving
students?
a. Instruction can be easily adjusted to provide new, more complex learning targets
✔✔
b. Students are automatically exempted from end-of-year testing requirements
c. Students earn extra grade points for finishing assignments early
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?
a. The narrative grading system uses proficiency scores to a great extent, but the
standards-based grading system does not.
b. The standards-based grading system uses proficiency scores, but the narrative
grading system does not. ✔✔
c. The narrative grading system is used to determine proficiency scores for written
tasks, while the standards-based system is used for other performance tasks.
d. 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. ✔✔
═════════════════════════════════════════════
Which factor distinguishes norm-referenced grading from standards-based
grading?
a. Grade point average (GPA)
b. Performance of the rest of the class ✔✔
c. Definition of grading standards
d. State accountability standards
Answer: Performance of the rest of the class ✔✔
═════════════════════════════════════════════
What is a benefit of using standards-based grading compared to norm-
referenced grading?
,a. Standards-based grading provides more feedback than norm-referenced grading.
b. Standards-based grading is more open to adjustments in instruction than norm-
referenced grading.
c. Standards-based grading is easier for score users to understand than norm-
referenced grading.
d. 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. ✔✔
═════════════════════════════════════════════
Why do teachers only grade student work related to the achievement of
learning targets in standards-based grading systems?
a. Teachers are able to help students focus on learning goals and track their
progress. ✔✔
b. Non-academic behaviors are prohibited from being evaluated in schools.
c. Standardized tests restrict grading to specific classroom assignments.
d. It eliminates the need for rubric design and scoring keys.
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 mastery
1 achievement level — Little or no mastery
Which grading system does this grading scale represent? -ANSWER
✔✔Criterion-referenced grading
How do standards-based grading systems support struggling students compared to
other common grading systems? -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? -ANSWER
✔✔-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.
What is a criticism of standards-based grading systems? -ANSWER ✔✔-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.T
-They require more one-on-one instruction, which is not realistic for schools
without block schedules.
Which problematic assessment practice does standards-based grading help teachers
avoid? -ANSWER ✔✔-Debates the pros and cons of an economic relief policy
-Explains the timeline and outcome of a national conflict
-Knows about the materials that contributed to an event and its outcome
-Uses primary sources to describe the events leading up to a conflict
Which statement is a criticism of standards-based grading systems? -ANSWER
✔✔-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.
How are measurement topics beneficial to teachers? -ANSWER ✔✔-They enable
teachers to assess all the required state standards.
-They help teachers identify a small set of themes to focus on during instruction.
-They enable teachers to rename groups of focus statements.
-They help teachers avoid incidental learning that is unrelated to the measurement
topic.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 100%
CORRECT RATED A+ || UPDATED 2026
What is a benefit of a standards-based grading system for high-achieving
students?
a. Instruction can be easily adjusted to provide new, more complex learning targets
✔✔
b. Students are automatically exempted from end-of-year testing requirements
c. Students earn extra grade points for finishing assignments early
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?
a. The narrative grading system uses proficiency scores to a great extent, but the
standards-based grading system does not.
b. The standards-based grading system uses proficiency scores, but the narrative
grading system does not. ✔✔
c. The narrative grading system is used to determine proficiency scores for written
tasks, while the standards-based system is used for other performance tasks.
d. 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. ✔✔
═════════════════════════════════════════════
Which factor distinguishes norm-referenced grading from standards-based
grading?
a. Grade point average (GPA)
b. Performance of the rest of the class ✔✔
c. Definition of grading standards
d. State accountability standards
Answer: Performance of the rest of the class ✔✔
═════════════════════════════════════════════
What is a benefit of using standards-based grading compared to norm-
referenced grading?
,a. Standards-based grading provides more feedback than norm-referenced grading.
b. Standards-based grading is more open to adjustments in instruction than norm-
referenced grading.
c. Standards-based grading is easier for score users to understand than norm-
referenced grading.
d. 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. ✔✔
═════════════════════════════════════════════
Why do teachers only grade student work related to the achievement of
learning targets in standards-based grading systems?
a. Teachers are able to help students focus on learning goals and track their
progress. ✔✔
b. Non-academic behaviors are prohibited from being evaluated in schools.
c. Standardized tests restrict grading to specific classroom assignments.
d. It eliminates the need for rubric design and scoring keys.
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 mastery
1 achievement level — Little or no mastery
Which grading system does this grading scale represent? -ANSWER
✔✔Criterion-referenced grading
How do standards-based grading systems support struggling students compared to
other common grading systems? -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? -ANSWER
✔✔-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.
What is a criticism of standards-based grading systems? -ANSWER ✔✔-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.T
-They require more one-on-one instruction, which is not realistic for schools
without block schedules.
Which problematic assessment practice does standards-based grading help teachers
avoid? -ANSWER ✔✔-Debates the pros and cons of an economic relief policy
-Explains the timeline and outcome of a national conflict
-Knows about the materials that contributed to an event and its outcome
-Uses primary sources to describe the events leading up to a conflict
Which statement is a criticism of standards-based grading systems? -ANSWER
✔✔-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.
How are measurement topics beneficial to teachers? -ANSWER ✔✔-They enable
teachers to assess all the required state standards.
-They help teachers identify a small set of themes to focus on during instruction.
-They enable teachers to rename groups of focus statements.
-They help teachers avoid incidental learning that is unrelated to the measurement
topic.
