How does standardized testing differ from curriculum-based assessments?

• A. Standardized tests have normative data and uniform procedures; curriculum-based assessments are aligned to the curriculum and used for progress monitoring.
• B. Curriculum-based assessments have normative data and uniform procedures.
• C. Standardized tests are never used for progress monitoring.
• D. Both types are identical in purpose and administration.

Answer: (A)

Standardized testing and curriculum-based assessments differ in purpose and design. Standardized tests are given under uniform conditions and scored using normative data, so a student's score is interpreted by comparing it to a larger reference group. This setup lets educators compare performance across students, schools, or districts and supports accountability measures. Curriculum-based assessments, on the other hand, are built to match what is being taught in the current curriculum. They are aligned to specific learning goals and are used to monitor a student’s progress toward those goals, providing timely feedback to guide instruction and adjust teaching as needed. While standardized tests offer broad benchmarks, curriculum-based assessments give ongoing, classroom-focused information about learning. The idea that standardized tests are never used for progress monitoring isn’t accurate; they’re typically used for summative, norm-referenced purposes, whereas curriculum-based assessments are designed for formative, ongoing progress tracking.