Final answer:
The most appropriate use of a norm-referenced test is for comparing scores with the average performance of other students, as it ranks test-takers relative to one another.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most appropriate use of a norm-referenced test is for comparing scores with the average performance of other students. Norm-referenced tests are designed to compare and rank test takers in relation to one another. This test format provides data on performance distribution among a population and allows scorers to see where a student stands relative to others. This differs from criterion-referenced tests, which measure a student's performance against a set standard without consideration for how other students perform.For example, the SAT and ACT are norm-referenced by design, aiming to assess readiness for college by comparing scores across a wide population of test-takers. Scoring, and interpretation of results must be consistent for a norm-referenced test to be effective. Standardized tests like the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, first standardized by Terman in 1916, serve as a historical example of a norm-referenced test still in use today that was rigorously normed and standardized.