Anchoring Assessment With Exemplars: Why Students and Teachers Need Models

Abstract

This essay presents an argument for the use of examples that set a clear standard for student performance. As educators implement new forms of assessments, they should calibrate local standards to exemplars, anchoring the highest point of their scoring system to examples of excellent performance. Educators should not be fearful of describing superlative performance even though all students may not reach those expert levels. Four types of performance criteria are suggested: impact, process, form and content. Examples of assessment initiatives grounded in models of excellent performance are also summarized.