WGU D659 Pre-Assessment Exam
Questions and Ansẉers with
Expert-Verified Explanation 2026\2027
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Questions and Ansẉers
format set of multiple-choice
Expert-Verified Explanation
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1. A teacher uses quick, ungraded checks for understanding throughout a
lesson to adjust instruction in real time. What type of assessment is this?
A. Summative assessment
B. Formative assessment
C. Diagnostic assessment
D. Norm-referenced assessment
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Formative assessment is used during instruction to
provide ongoing feedback that teachers can use to adjust their teaching and
students can use to improve their learning. These assessments are typically
low-stakes or ungraded and occur frequently. Summative assessments occur at
the end of a unit to evaluate overall learning. Diagnostic assessments are given
before instruction to identify prior knowledge. Norm-referenced assessments
compare students to peers. The key here is that the teacher is using the checks
to adjust instruction in real time, which is the defining purpose of formative
assessment.
2. A district administers an annual standardized reading test to determine
how well schools are meeting state benchmarks at the end of the year.
What kind of assessment is this best described as?
A. Summative assessment
B. Formative assessment
C. Informal assessment
D. Ipsative assessment
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Summative assessment evaluates student learning at the
conclusion of an instructional period (end of year, end of unit) against a
standard or benchmark. These high-stakes tests measure cumulative knowledge
and are used for accountability. Formative assessments are ongoing and low-
stakes. Informal assessments are unstructured observations. Ipsative
assessment compares a student's current performance to their past
,performance. The annual standardized reading test is used to judge school
effectiveness against state standards, which is a summative function.
3. A teacher compares one student's essay scores across multiple
semesters to determine if they are improving compared only to their own
past work. What type of assessment is this?
A. Norm-referenced assessment
B. Ipsative assessment
C. Criterion-referenced assessment
D. Diagnostic assessment
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Ipsative assessment measures a student's performance
against their own previous performance over time, tracking growth and
progress individually. It Answers "Are you improving compared to yourself?"
Norm-referenced compares students to a peer group. Criterion-referenced
measures mastery of specific standards. Diagnostic identifies pre-existing
knowledge. This teacher is specifically looking at intra-student growth across
semesters, which is the essence of ipsative assessment.
4. Before starting a new science unit, a teacher administers a pre-test to
find out what prior knowledge students already have about ecosystems.
What is this type of assessment?
A. Diagnostic assessment
B. Summative assessment
C. Norm-referenced assessment
D. Criterion-referenced assessment
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Diagnostic assessment is given before instruction begins
to determine students' existing knowledge, skills, misconceptions, or learning
gaps. The pre-test's purpose is to guide instructional planning by identifying
what students already know and what needs to be taught. Summative
assessment evaluates final learning. Norm-referenced compares to peers.
Criterion-referenced measures against standards. The timing (before the unit)
and purpose (identify prior knowledge) make this a diagnostic assessment.
5. When a teacher observes students during group work, takes notes about
participation, and uses that information to guide future lessons, which type
of assessment is being used?
A. Informal assessment
, B. Summative assessment
C. Standardized testing
D. Norm-referenced testing
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Informal assessment involves unstructured, often
spontaneous methods of gathering information about student learning, such as
observation, checklists, and anecdotal notes. It does not involve standardized
procedures or formal scoring. The teacher's observation and note-taking during
group work is a classic example of informal assessment used to inform
instruction. Standardized testing and norm-referenced testing are formal.
Summative assessment occurs at the end of a unit.
6. A teacher uses a rubric aligned to state standards to grade student
essays fairly and consistently. What type of assessment is this an example
of?
A. Criterion-referenced assessment
B. Norm-referenced assessment
C. Ipsative assessment
D. Informal observation
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Criterion-referenced assessment measures student
performance against a fixed set of criteria or learning standards, not against
other students. The rubric aligned to state standards establishes the criteria for
mastery. Each student's essay is judged against the rubric, not against
classmates' essays. Norm-referenced compares students to each other. Ipsative
compares to past self. Informal observation is unstructured. The use of
standards-aligned rubrics is the hallmark of criterion-referenced assessment.
7. A student's test score shows how they rank compared to all other
students in the state. What assessment type does this best represent?
A. Norm-referenced
B. Criterion-referenced
C. Ipsative
D. Informal
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Norm-referenced assessment compares an individual
student's performance to that of a larger group (the "norm group"), often
reported as percentiles or stanines. The ranking compared to other students in
the state is the defining feature of norm-referenced interpretation. Criterion-
Questions and Ansẉers with
Expert-Verified Explanation 2026\2027
update
This Exam contains:
Guarantee passing score
Questions and Ansẉers
format set of multiple-choice
Expert-Verified Explanation
, Verified ẉith trusted textbooks
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
─
1. A teacher uses quick, ungraded checks for understanding throughout a
lesson to adjust instruction in real time. What type of assessment is this?
A. Summative assessment
B. Formative assessment
C. Diagnostic assessment
D. Norm-referenced assessment
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Formative assessment is used during instruction to
provide ongoing feedback that teachers can use to adjust their teaching and
students can use to improve their learning. These assessments are typically
low-stakes or ungraded and occur frequently. Summative assessments occur at
the end of a unit to evaluate overall learning. Diagnostic assessments are given
before instruction to identify prior knowledge. Norm-referenced assessments
compare students to peers. The key here is that the teacher is using the checks
to adjust instruction in real time, which is the defining purpose of formative
assessment.
2. A district administers an annual standardized reading test to determine
how well schools are meeting state benchmarks at the end of the year.
What kind of assessment is this best described as?
A. Summative assessment
B. Formative assessment
C. Informal assessment
D. Ipsative assessment
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Summative assessment evaluates student learning at the
conclusion of an instructional period (end of year, end of unit) against a
standard or benchmark. These high-stakes tests measure cumulative knowledge
and are used for accountability. Formative assessments are ongoing and low-
stakes. Informal assessments are unstructured observations. Ipsative
assessment compares a student's current performance to their past
,performance. The annual standardized reading test is used to judge school
effectiveness against state standards, which is a summative function.
3. A teacher compares one student's essay scores across multiple
semesters to determine if they are improving compared only to their own
past work. What type of assessment is this?
A. Norm-referenced assessment
B. Ipsative assessment
C. Criterion-referenced assessment
D. Diagnostic assessment
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Ipsative assessment measures a student's performance
against their own previous performance over time, tracking growth and
progress individually. It Answers "Are you improving compared to yourself?"
Norm-referenced compares students to a peer group. Criterion-referenced
measures mastery of specific standards. Diagnostic identifies pre-existing
knowledge. This teacher is specifically looking at intra-student growth across
semesters, which is the essence of ipsative assessment.
4. Before starting a new science unit, a teacher administers a pre-test to
find out what prior knowledge students already have about ecosystems.
What is this type of assessment?
A. Diagnostic assessment
B. Summative assessment
C. Norm-referenced assessment
D. Criterion-referenced assessment
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Diagnostic assessment is given before instruction begins
to determine students' existing knowledge, skills, misconceptions, or learning
gaps. The pre-test's purpose is to guide instructional planning by identifying
what students already know and what needs to be taught. Summative
assessment evaluates final learning. Norm-referenced compares to peers.
Criterion-referenced measures against standards. The timing (before the unit)
and purpose (identify prior knowledge) make this a diagnostic assessment.
5. When a teacher observes students during group work, takes notes about
participation, and uses that information to guide future lessons, which type
of assessment is being used?
A. Informal assessment
, B. Summative assessment
C. Standardized testing
D. Norm-referenced testing
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Informal assessment involves unstructured, often
spontaneous methods of gathering information about student learning, such as
observation, checklists, and anecdotal notes. It does not involve standardized
procedures or formal scoring. The teacher's observation and note-taking during
group work is a classic example of informal assessment used to inform
instruction. Standardized testing and norm-referenced testing are formal.
Summative assessment occurs at the end of a unit.
6. A teacher uses a rubric aligned to state standards to grade student
essays fairly and consistently. What type of assessment is this an example
of?
A. Criterion-referenced assessment
B. Norm-referenced assessment
C. Ipsative assessment
D. Informal observation
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Criterion-referenced assessment measures student
performance against a fixed set of criteria or learning standards, not against
other students. The rubric aligned to state standards establishes the criteria for
mastery. Each student's essay is judged against the rubric, not against
classmates' essays. Norm-referenced compares students to each other. Ipsative
compares to past self. Informal observation is unstructured. The use of
standards-aligned rubrics is the hallmark of criterion-referenced assessment.
7. A student's test score shows how they rank compared to all other
students in the state. What assessment type does this best represent?
A. Norm-referenced
B. Criterion-referenced
C. Ipsative
D. Informal
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Norm-referenced assessment compares an individual
student's performance to that of a larger group (the "norm group"), often
reported as percentiles or stanines. The ranking compared to other students in
the state is the defining feature of norm-referenced interpretation. Criterion-
