Which testing method may provide a mean and standard deviation for evaluating group achievement?

The choice of norm-referenced tests is appropriate because this type of assessment allows for the comparison of an individual's performance against a predefined group or population. Norm-referenced tests are designed to provide insights into how a test taker's performance compares to others, generating both a mean and standard deviation from the test scores of a sample group. This enables educators to evaluate overall group achievement by identifying where the group stands in relation to the normative data. These statistics reflect not just average performance but also the variability of scores within that group, enabling a better understanding of their collective performance.

In contrast, criterion-referenced tests focus solely on whether an individual meets specific learning objectives or criteria, rather than comparing scores to a norm. The cognitive academic language learning approach and language proficiency tests also do not serve the same purpose as norm-referenced assessments, as they concentrate on language acquisition or proficiency levels without providing comparative metrics like mean and standard deviation for broader group evaluation.