What assessment type is designed to compare individual student performance against a group?

The correct choice, standardized tests, are specifically designed to measure and compare individual student performance against a group. These assessments typically follow a consistent and uniform format, ensuring that each student takes the same test under similar conditions. By doing so, educators can evaluate how a student performs relative to their peers, providing insights into their academic standing and achievement levels within a defined population.

Standardized tests often include a variety of subjects and skills, allowing for broad comparisons across different demographics and regions. The results can help administrators and educational policy-makers understand trends in student learning and identify areas where additional resources may be needed to elevate performance.

In contrast, diagnostic assessments focus on identifying specific student strengths and weaknesses at an individual level, formative assessments are used to monitor student learning and inform instruction during the learning process, and performance assessments evaluate students' ability to apply knowledge and skills in a practical context, often without standardized comparison. Each of these other types play a unique role in education but do not specifically aim to compare an individual student to a broader group in the way standardized tests do.