National Counselor Exam (NCE)

The main purpose of norms in testing is to provide meaning to test scores. Norms are developed based on a large, representative sample and are used to compare an individual's performance to that of the norm group. By establishing what is considered average or typical performance, norms allow test scores to be interpreted in a meaningful way. This interpretation can help educators, counselors, and psychologists understand how an individual performs relative to a broader population, facilitating the identification of strengths, weaknesses, and areas for further development. Norms also play a critical role in informing decisions about interventions or educational placements based on an individual's relative standing.