What type of assessments include both formal assessments and norm-referenced tests?

Formal assessments encompass a range of structured evaluation tools designed to measure students' knowledge, skills, and competencies in a standardized way. This category includes both norm-referenced tests, which compare a student's performance to a norm group, and formal assessments, which may also comprise criterion-referenced tests.

Norm-referenced tests are designed to rank students against one another and determine where a student stands relative to peers. In contrast, criterion-referenced tests measure student performance against a set standard or criterion, rather than against other students. By including both types, formal assessments provide educators with a comprehensive overview of student abilities, allowing them to make informed decisions about instruction and intervention.

The other options reflect different types of assessments that serve specific purposes. Criterion-referenced tests focus solely on measuring student mastery of specific skills without comparison to others. Curriculum-based assessments are often designed to monitor student progress over time and are closely tied to the instructional materials used in the classroom. Diagnostic probes aim to identify specific learning challenges or deficits but do not broadly represent the comprehensive nature of formal assessments, which utilize both norm-referenced and criterion-referenced approaches.