In more detail,
the two types of tests differ in:
The ways scores are interpreted differ is that NRTs are designed to compare the performances
of students to one another in relative terms, while CRTs are built to identify the amount or
percent of the material each examinee knows or can do in absolute terms.
The purposes of the tests also differ with NRTs primarily designed to spread examinees out on
a continuum of general abilities so examinees’ performances can be compared to each other