Final answer:
Norm-referenced tests are used to compare a student's performance to that of their peers. They focus on ranking students rather than measuring against individual or curriculum-based standards. These tests are a reflection of competitive societal values.
Step-by-step explanation:
Norm-referenced tests rely upon comparisons made with other students. These assessments are designed to evaluate a student's performance against a sample of peers, typically done by comparing their scores with a representative sample. Norm-referenced tests are not solely about an individual's past performances, the teacher's expectations, or curriculum standards. The aim is to rank students and differentiate their levels of achievement in relation to each other.
The No Child Left Behind Act emphasized standardized testing and occasionally resulted in a phenomenon known as "teaching to the test." This approach has been critiqued for narrowing the curriculum to what is tested. Norm-referenced tests create a competition among students, which reflects broader societal values such as those found in capitalism, rather than personal or communal educational achievement.