Plain English Meaning

Test questions that check whether a student can do a specific thing to a set standard. The question is 'Did they meet the standard?' — not 'How did they score compared to everyone else?'

Full Definition

Test questions designed to measure a student's performance against a fixed standard or specific learning objective, rather than against the performance of other students. Each item checks whether the student has met a defined criterion — for example, the ability to correctly identify airspace classes or calculate a weight and balance.

Context Anchor

Seen in aviation instructor training when choosing assessment methods and writing questions or tasks for student pilots.

Derivation

From the Greek 'kriterion,' meaning a standard for judging. A criterion-referenced item judges the student against that fixed standard.