5 Reasons to Use Norm Referenced Tests in the Classroom
Why Tests Matter
To know how students do in school is perhaps the most important function of a
test. Other than assessing how students have progressed, it also tells the
teachers how effective the instructions are. Testing, however, isn’t as simple
as that. Throughout the years, testing has been used to identify people who can
be admitted into the best universities. These tests also serve as a report card
for assessing the educational standard of countries. It has been the basis of
continuous education reforms intended to improve the achievement of students.
Exams and their results serve important purposes. Generally, tests, whether
at the end or the beginning of classes are intended to diagnose strengths and
weaknesses of the individual class members. Additionally, they are used to track
the progress of learning with that of the expected outcomes. They aim to provide
further motivation for students to do better and for making certain adjustments
in certain programs. They can also help with the quality of teaching.
What Are Norm-Referenced Tests?
 Norm referenced tests (NRT) are exams that evaluate or estimate how well someone
performs compared to other members of the population. It tells whether a student
performs better or worse than others who took the same test. Tests of these
types are created and administered to students for comparison of performance.
After the papers were rated numerically, students’ raw scores were statistically
analyzed to compute for means. After this, performance levels or numerical
grades are assigned. It is an effective way in identifying the differences
between the class members’ performance, which might be useful in the diagnosis
of learning difficulties or disability. Different from criterion referenced
tests (CRT), NRT’s, measure students as compared with their fellow class
members, making it easier for the teacher to track the direction of the lessons,
and the effectiveness of strategies in teaching them. CRT’s track the student
knowledge and NRT’s focus on where lessons can be improved.
Testing in the Classroom
 The degree of attention state tests gets lesser attention than those given to
classroom-based tests. Being the most frequent test taken by students, it
entails major consequences that define how students are placed in the statistics
of performance and achievement. Though sometimes misunderstood, tests in the
classroom are main contributors of one’s grade point average, which is a very
important figure in securing a slot for a university one wishes to attend.
Generally used to monitor and evaluate students’ learning and level of skill
acquisition, classroom-based tests are useful in the diagnosis of a class
member’s weakness and abilities, assigning of grades and monitoring of
individual progress. This provides data to support teacher’s evaluation of one’s
strategy and educational plans and in making decisions for curricular programs
and processes.
Classroom tests are also effective in getting the overall picture of
students’ achievement, whether one’s child is improving or failing. It helps
teachers to easily spot weaknesses and recommend remediation. Additionally,
results of exams given in the classroom give direct answers to the effectiveness
of teacher’s instructions and therefore make it easier to adjust the techniques
previously applied. For example, when all students get scores higher than what
the teacher set as a condition for passing, it can be concluded that the
instructional strategy employed is effective. Tests are roadmaps for teachers in
designing lessons students can grasps easily.
5 Top Reasons to Use Norm Referenced Tests in your Classroom
Tests are given to get direct insights on student’s level of learning and
mastery. One of the most preferred way of grading and ordering students rating
is the NRT. The following are the five known advantages of using NRTs in grading
students:
5)
Ranking of students is based on the overall test performance
Perhaps one of the most acclaimed advantages of using NRT’s in the classroom is
the ease in grading students based on the over-all test performance of the class
members. With NRT’s, teachers are able to find flexible ways of grading students
and rating their performances. Unlike that of the CRT’s, where students are
rated based on a standard. A classroom that adheres to NRT is more likely to
rank students according to how they perform against their peers. Furthermore,
many educators found NRT testing more student-friendly as it allows students to
be graded in relation to their average level of achievement, making it a more
realistic grading basis.
4)
Ease in monitoring students’ performance as dictated by norms
When the
norms or point of comparisons among class members is established, it is easier
for the teacher to place students along the rank of class members who either
achieve or fall out of the academic trend. Since it is quite impossible to apply
one general rule for all students, classroom-based tests directly and closely
exhibit what should be done to remedy students’ weakness. Equally important, the
trend of class members performance can tell the teachers whether strategies
employed to deliver the curriculum has been fully helpful or challenging. In
addition to that, remediation and enrichment activities can be quickly decided
for both the slow and fast learners.
3)
Teacher-designed NRTs are motivating
Research has shown that exams
designed and administered in the classroom are more motivating for students.
This is because they tend to have a direct effect on their grades. Despite the
annual state exams schools are to administer to the students, exams taken in the
classrooms are taken more seriously as they are determinants of the general
weighted average (GWA), which is essential in gaining college admission. Equally
important, test results that help teachers diagnose success and challenges in
learning can be obtained quicker than standardized tests that take time to get
analyzed and returned to the teacher. Whatever trend is given by tests can be
remedied by the teacher right away. Also, classroom based NRTs are cheaper to
prepare, making it possible for teachers to design pretest and posttests.
2)
NRTs are effective and flexible measures
Because NRTs are designed to
diagnose weaknesses so proper corrections can be made, they are flexibly based
on every classroom’s needs. Since the over-all results of state tests cannot
address specific issues in all classrooms, teacher-made exams are effective in
meeting the needs of students, making it possible for their educational issues
to be solved and addressed. In addition to being flexible, NRTs in classrooms
are motivating for students as they feel less pressured having to reach a
specified benchmark or standard, which in turn make them feel anxious and
frustrated. According to research by Kennon Sheldon and Bruce Biddle, students
tend to perform poorly when they feel they do not have enough capacity to pass
exams which are still beyond their abilities. Such feeling can be caused of
failures, and exhibits of constraints to the delivery of the prescribed
curriculum. Sheldon and Biddle added that when tests are known to provide
rewards for growth and effort, like higher grades and recognition, they are
motivating for students.
1)
Classroom tests graded through norms help build competence
If there is
something great about classroom-based tests, it is their capacity to scaffold
learning. Teacher made assessments are usually based on the fact that classroom
lessons are constructed based on the continuum of skills and knowledge. They
normally start with easier topics and gradually increase in complexity as the
subject matter demands. This step by step testing bridges the topics and serves
as a cue for the ones that are quite demanding cognitively. Exposures like these
are known to build students ability to learn topics in increasing difficulty.
Equally important, exams that do not tend to push students too hard provide
motivations as they are easily achieved and aligned with what the students can
do at a given period. Alexandra Usher and Nancy Kober, authors of “Student
Motivation—An Overlooked Piece of School Reform,” claim that assessments should
be motivating rather than anxiety-inducing.
Parting Thoughts
NRTs are useful when teachers wish to compare individual standing with that
of the other students taking the same assessment. Quite different from the CRTs
that test mastery and learning based on a standard set. NRTs take the over-all
performance of the test takers before setting a pass or fail mark. Consequently,
when a teacher-made NRT is well planned and aligned with the national standards,
it can be a cheaper way to determine the competencies and abilities acquired by
the students. Since not all classrooms are the same, teacher-made test makes it
easier for the students to learn according to the general phase of the class and
the level of performance they exhibit after test results are out. NRTs are also
one of the most effective ways to tell the specific needs of a certain
classroom, necessary to make relevant reforms in school systems and curricula
design. Lastly, because NRTs are less harsh and often foster competition, they
tend to be more motivating and specific in addressing needs.
Teachers
5 Reasons to Use Norm Referenced Tests in the Classroom
5 Ways to Use Criterion Referenced Test in the Classroom
Photo Memoir: Writing Assignment
Top 5 Things to Know About Your ESL Students’ Backgrounds
Group Work in College ESL Classrooms
How to Teach Business English in ESL Setting
Benefits of Using Graphic Organizers in the Classroom
How to Use Storytelling in Language Teaching
How to Correct Student Essays
The Most Common Problems in ESL Classrooms
Tips on Teaching ESL Students Vocabulary
Praise: A Great Motivator for Student Achievement
Peer Feedback is a Great Tool in Writing Classes
 |
