Setting Performance Standards on Complex Educational Assessments

Performance assessments have become popular in education and credentialing, and performance standards are common for interpreting and reporting scores. However, because of the unique characteristics of these assessments compared to multiple-choice tests (such as polytomous scoring), new and validstandard-setting methods are needed. Well-known standard-setting methods are no longer applicable. A number of promising methods for setting performance standards are described and their strengths and weaknesses are discussed. Suggestions for additional research are offered.