Final answer:
A z-score of 1 on an exam means the score was one standard deviation above the class mean, indicating a better than average performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you received a z-score of 1 on an exam, this indicates that your score was one standard deviation above the class mean. A z-score is a statistical measure that describes a score's relationship to the mean in a group of scores. Since the average z-score is zero, a z-score of 1 means your performance was better than average, placing you above the mean. This method of scoring allows comparison of results from different exams or classes that might have varying levels of difficulty or different average performances.