Which assessment uses a comparison to a previous test result to measure improvement?

• A. Formative assessment
• B. Ipsative assessment
• C. Summative assessment
• D. Norm-referenced assessment

Answer: (B)

Ipsative assessment measures personal growth by comparing your current results to your own previous results. This approach focuses on how you have improved over time, rather than how you stack up against others or against a fixed standard. It’s particularly useful for tracking progress across repeated attempts, setting personal goals, and highlighting areas of improvement relative to your own past performances. By contrast, formative assessment guides learning during the process, summative assessment judges achievement at the end, and norm-referenced assessment compares you to a larger group. So using a previous test to gauge improvement is a clear fit for ipsative assessment.