Which assessment strategy involves comparing a student's performance to that of their peers?

The assessment strategy that involves comparing a student's performance to that of their peers is norm-referenced assessment. This type of assessment evaluates an individual's performance relative to a defined group, often referred to as a normative group. The primary goal is to interpret an individual student's scores in the context of how other students perform on the same assessment.

Norm-referenced assessments are typically standardized tests that produce scores, which are then compared to the scores of other students who have taken the same test. This allows educators to see where a student stands in relation to peers, helping identify students who may be performing above, at, or below the average.

In contrast, criterion-referenced assessment focuses on whether a student meets specific learning criteria or standards regardless of how others perform. Formative assessment is used to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback without comparison to peers. Dynamic assessment involves a test-teach-test approach to understand a student's learning potential and responsiveness to instruction, rather than comparing them to a normative group.