FAA Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI)Assessment and CritiqueMedium
A designated pilot examiner evaluates an applicant's checkride performance strictly against the fixed standards published in the Airman Certification Standards, rather than comparing the applicant's score to other applicants who took the same test. This describes which type of test?
- ANorm-referenced test
- BDiagnostic test
- CCriterion-referenced test
- DStandardized aptitude test
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Criterion-referenced test
A criterion-referenced test measures performance against a predetermined, fixed standard (such as the ACS), rather than ranking a person's performance relative to a group, which is the approach used in norm-referenced testing.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Norm-referenced testing compares an individual's score to the performance of a group, not to a fixed standard.
- B. A diagnostic test is given before instruction to identify prior knowledge or deficiencies.
- D. An aptitude test measures potential ability, not achievement against a defined standard.
Criterion-Referenced Test
A test that measures a person's performance against a fixed, predetermined standard rather than against other test-takers.
- Used in FAA practical tests via the ACS standards
- Contrasts with norm-referenced tests, which rank students against peers
- Focuses on whether the standard was met, not relative ranking
Memory trick: Criterion = compared to a Concrete standard; Norm = compared to Neighbors.