What kind of assessment is intended to compare an individual student's score with national averages?

The chosen answer emphasizes the significance of norm-referenced assessment in educational settings. This type of assessment is specifically designed to evaluate a student's performance in relation to a larger population, often referred to as the norm group. By comparing individual scores against national averages, educators and practitioners can gain insights into how a student is performing relative to peers.

Norm-referenced assessments provide valuable context for interpreting a student's abilities or achievements. For instance, a student may score well in absolute terms, but without comparison to national averages, it's difficult to gauge their standing within a broader context. The information derived from these assessments helps identify whether a student is above, below, or at the average performance level, which can be crucial for making educational decisions, developing interventions, or identifying needs for additional support.

This assessment type is distinct from others. Curriculum-based assessments focus on the specific content taught in the classroom, while criterion-referenced assessments measure a student's performance against a set of predefined criteria or learning standards rather than comparing it to a group. Screening assessments are generally used to identify students who may be at risk for academic difficulties and are not primarily aimed at comparison with national averages. Each type serves its purpose in the assessment landscape, but norm-referenced assessments are particularly valuable for understanding relative performance.