Which statement best describes the relationship between objectives and assessment criteria?

• A. Objectives are independent of assessment.
• B. Assessment criteria do not relate to objectives.
• C. Objectives should be Specific, Observable, and Measurable, and linked to assessment criteria.
• D. Assessment criteria define budget.

Answer: (C)

Alignment between objectives and assessment criteria is essential. Objectives describe what learners should be able to do, and assessment criteria define the standards by which that performance will be judged. When objectives are Specific, Observable, and Measurable, you can clearly identify the evidence needed to show success. Linking those objectives to assessment criteria ensures the tasks and scoring actually measure whether the objective has been achieved. This makes the learning goals transparent and the evaluation fair and actionable.

For example, an objective like “students can analyze a problem and explain the solution steps” becomes measurable when it’s stated as “students will identify the key steps and justify each with a brief rationale for a given problem.” The assessment criteria then specify what counts as a correct analysis and justification, so success is observable and verifiable. The other ideas—objectives existing independently of assessment, criteria unrelated to objectives, or budgeting—don’t provide a reliable way to judge learning and thus miss the essential link between what is intended to be learned and how it is measured.