CRITERION-REFERENCED

GRADING SYSTEMS
 The students performance is evaluated
against a certain criteria or standard.
 The criteria or standard is absolute in
this grading system and it is also
possible that all the student may
receive the highest possible grade or
all of them may pass the said test.
 It is also possible that all students may
receive a failing grade if they will not
r e a c h t h e s t a n d a r d s e t b y t h e t e a c h e r.
ADVANTAGES
 The performance of the students
will not be affected by the
performance of the whole class.
 It promotes cooperation among the
students.
 All students may pass the subject
or course when they meet the
standard set by the teacher.
 DISADVANTAGES
 It is difficult to see a reasonable standard if it is
not stated in the grading policies of the
institution.
 All students may not pass the subject or course
when they do not meet the standard set by the
teacher or the institution.
Example: In class of 100 students using the table below, no one
might get a grade of excellent if no one scores 98 above or 85
above depending on the criterion used. There is no fixed
percentage of students who are expected to get the various
grades in the criterion-referenced grading system.

1.0 (Excellent) = 98-100 or 85-100

1.25 (Good) = 88-97 or 80-84
2.0 (Fair) = 70-87 or 70-79
3.0 (Poor) = 65-74 or 60-69
5.0 (Failure) = below 65 or below 60
Criterion-Referenced Grading Systems are often used in
situations where the teachers are agreed on the meaning
of a “standard of performance” in a subject but the
quality of the students is unknown or uneven; where the
work involves students collaboration or teamwork; and
where there is no external driving factor such as needing
to systematically reduces pool of eligible students.
 • Grades may also reflect absolute
performance score compared to specified
G E performance standards (What you can
N do).
• In such a system:
E A. Grade does not depend on what group
R you are in but only on your own
A performance standards.
B. Grade is a complex task, because grade
L must clearly defined the domain, clearly
I define and justify the performance
Z standards and be based on criterion
A referenced assessment.
T C. Conditions are hard to meet, except in
I O complete mastery.
N
Norm-Referenced Grading System Criterion – Referenced Grading System

Provide the information on how the Provide information on how the individual on
performance of an individual compares with some standard of objective.
that of others.

Individual’s standing is compared with the Allow users to interpret what an individual
other group. can do without considering the performance
of others.

Percentile rank is obtained to determine the Designs to measure the results of discussion.
relative standing in a norm group.

Emphasize the discrimination among An individual’s performance on a specific

individuals. behavioural or instructional objective .
Emphasizes description of performance.