Which exam type compares one student's performance on a test to other students' performance?

Ad hoc tests are created for a specific purpose or situation, often tailored to immediate needs rather than standardized or comparative performance measurement. They do not typically involve comparisons to other students and lack the structure necessary for norm-referencing.

Criterion-referenced tests measure a student's performance against a fixed set of criteria or learning standards, determining whether they have mastered specific skills or knowledge. Unlike norm-referenced tests, they do not compare students to one another; instead, they assess individual mastery of content.

An essay test evaluates a student’s ability to articulate thoughts and demonstrate understanding through written responses. While it can reflect individual performance, it does not inherently compare students against one another unless evaluated within a norm-referenced framework, making it an unsuitable choice for this question.