Ipsative assessment

Ipsative assessment is a style of assessment (or test) in which the tested individual is compared to him- or her-self either in the same domain through time or in comparison with other domains - also known as "profiling". One place where this might be implemented is in reference to tests used with K-12 students in the United States.

Ipsative assessment can be contrasted with criterion-referenced assessment and norm-referenced assessment.

Ipsative assessment is used in everyday life, and features heavily in physical education and also in computer games.

Encouraging pupils to beat their previous scores can take peer pressure out of situations and eliminates the competitive element associated with norm-based referencing. It can be particularly useful for children with learning disabilities and can improve motivation.