criterion-referenced
UK[kraɪˈtɪəriəˌrɛfərənst]US[kraɪˈtɪriəˌrɛfərənst]
adj
(of a test or assessment) designed to measure a student's performance against a specific, predetermined standard or set of criteria, rather than in comparison to the performance of other students.
Morpheme Breakdown
criterion
reference
ed
criterion
reference
ed
Etymology
The term is a modern compound adjective from the mid-20th century, constructed within the specialized field of educational measurement. It directly combines 'criterion,' a Greek-derived word for a standard of judgment, with the past participial form of 'reference,' from Latin roots meaning "to carry back." The literal construction "characterized by being referred to a criterion" perfectly captures its technical function: an assessment where performance is carried back to and measured against an absolute benchmark. This contrasts with 'norm-referenced' testing, highlighting a fundamental shift in educational philosophy towards objective, competency-based evaluation.
Analysis
Structure: criterion + reference + ed
- criterion: From Greek kritērion (a means for judging, standard), from kritēs (judge). Functions as the object or standard being used.
- reference: From Latin referre (to carry back, relate). The verb stem refer- with the noun-forming suffix -ence. Functions to indicate the act of relating or comparing to something.
- ed: A suffix from Old English -ed, -od, -ad, used to form adjectives from nouns or verbs, indicating "provided with" or "characterized by."
Examples
The driving test is a criterion-referenced assessment; you must demonstrate specific skills to pass, regardless of how other candidates perform.
Teachers use criterion-referenced grading to evaluate if students have mastered the learning objectives outlined in the syllabus.
The certification exam is purely criterion-referenced, requiring a score of 80% or higher to succeed.