Which testing type focuses on students' mastery of course content?

Criterion-referenced tests are designed specifically to evaluate students' mastery of specific knowledge and skills defined by a given curriculum. These tests assess whether students have learned the intended material and can demonstrate their understanding and application of course content. The key characteristic of criterion-referenced tests is that they measure student performance against a predetermined set of criteria or learning standards, rather than comparing students to one another. This ensures that the evaluation is focused directly on the learning objectives, making it a valuable tool for educators to determine which students have achieved the necessary competencies and which may need further support.

In contrast, norm-referenced tests compare a student's performance to that of a larger group, assessing relative standing rather than absolute mastery. Language placement tests are aimed at determining a student's appropriate level for language instruction, while language proficiency tests evaluate overall proficiency in the language rather than specific content knowledge. Thus, criterion-referenced tests uniquely align with the goal of measuring students' mastery of course content.