kompetansetesting

Kompetansetesting (competency testing) is an assessment approach that measures an individual's ability to apply knowledge and skills in practical tasks and real-world scenarios. It centers on predefined competencies—outcomes describing what a person should be able to do—rather than on memorized facts. Assessments commonly combine performance tasks, simulations, work samples, case studies, portfolios, and structured tests with rubrics to judge demonstrated competence.

Contexts and purposes: Kompetansetesting is used in education, vocational training, professional licensure, and workforce development. It supports placement decisions, progression, certification, and program evaluation. When aligned with explicit competency frameworks and standards, it aims to ensure that assessments reflect actual performance in relevant domains.

Methods and design: Assessments are often performance-based and criterion-referenced, with scores based on rubrics that define levels of proficiency. Validity (whether the test measures the intended competencies) and reliability (consistency of results) are central quality criteria. Equivalence across cultures and languages, fairness, and accessibility are common design concerns.

Advantages and challenges: The approach emphasizes practical applicability and transfer of skills to real work. It can support personalized learning paths and clearer achievement criteria. However, kompetansetesting can be resource-intensive to develop and administer, may require robust standard-setting, and risks bias if competency definitions are incomplete or culturally biased.

Relation to related concepts: Kompetansetesting is a core component of competency-based education and assessment, as well as many licensure and certification programs. It complements traditional knowledge tests by focusing on applied abilities rather than recall.