What is criterion referencing, and how does it apply to the ACLAM Certification Exam?
Criterion referencing means that an exam is based on specific knowledge criteria, and not on comparative performance of the candidates (norm referencing – that is, “grading on the curve”). It is contrary to recommendations from the American Board of Veterinary Specialties and to recommendations of the expert community of certification examination experts, such as our consultants, to use norm referencing – otherwise known as “grading on the curve”. General veterinary licensure examinations eliminated “grading on the curve” over 15 years ago. Norm referencing (“grading on the curve”) is simply no longer acceptable for high stakes certification examinations in any field. Our exam consultants recommended that our exam must be strongly linked to the Role Delineation Document, and have the passing point set by psychometrically accepted methods, in order to accomplish this.
