What is a derived score?

A derived score is best understood as a score that has been transformed or adjusted to provide meaningful comparisons to a norm group, allowing for a clearer interpretation of an individual's performance. This transformation often involves taking a raw score and utilizing statistical methods to relate it to a broader population's performance, highlighting how well the individual performed relative to others.

While some derived scores may reflect percentile ranks, not all derived scores indicate this, and a derived score encompasses a broader spectrum of performance metrics, including scaled scores and standard scores. A derived score fundamentally enhances the raw score by situating it within a comparative context, ensuring that educators and psychologists can make informed decisions based on how one score relates to the rest of the group.