FTCE Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12 Practice Test 2026 - Free ESE Practice Questions and Study Guide

A standard score represents a comparison of an individual's performance against a normative group or peers. This score is commonly derived from standardized assessments and is expressed in relation to the average performance of the peer group, allowing educators and practitioners to understand how a student performs in comparison to others.

For instance, if a student receives a standard score that is significantly above or below the mean, it indicates how far or close that student's performance is from the average performance of their peers, facilitating insights into their strengths and weaknesses relative to their age or grade level group.

While self-reports may provide insight into a student's perceived strengths, specific skill mastery levels refer to achievement in particular areas of study, and annual performance growth measures focus on individual progress over time, these other aspects do not provide the same comparative framework that standard scores do.