What type of assessment measures the standard of performance across a population?

The choice of normative assessment is appropriate because it specifically refers to a type of evaluation that measures a student's performance in relation to a larger group, often referred to as a norm group. This method helps to understand how an individual's performance compares with that of their peers, making it useful for identifying relative strengths and weaknesses within a population. For instance, when standardized test scores are reported, they often include percentile ranks that show how a student performed compared to others—this is a hallmark of normative assessment.

In contrast, criterion assessments focus on whether a student meets specific learning objectives or standards, without referencing the performance of others. Summative assessments are used to evaluate student learning after instruction has occurred, usually aimed at measuring the effectiveness of educational programs, but they do not inherently assess a standard of performance across a population. Formative assessments, on the other hand, are designed to monitor student learning during the instructional process and provide ongoing feedback, rather than comparing individual performance across a broader group.

Thus, normative assessment is distinguished by its population-based comparative approach, making it suitable for the question asked.