What best describes a performance-based assessment?

• A. A test that requires memorization of facts
• B. An assessment requiring students to demonstrate a skill or task
• C. A standardized test scored with a bell curve
• D. A survey of attitudes

Answer: (B)

A performance-based assessment focuses on what a student can actually do or produce, not just what they can recall. It asks students to demonstrate a skill or complete a task in a real or simulated setting, showing how they apply knowledge and abilities. For example, designing a science experiment, giving a presentation, solving a complex problem with a tangible outcome, or creating a project that requires applying concepts learned. This approach values the ability to perform and produce, rather than simply recite facts or memorize procedures. In contrast, a test centered on memorization assesses recall of information, a standardized test scored with a bell curve concerns how scores are distributed rather than the nature of the task, and a survey of attitudes measures opinions or feelings rather than demonstrated performance. So, the option describing an assessment in which students demonstrate a skill or task best captures what performance-based assessment is.