What feature describes a normal distribution of assessment data?

A normal distribution is characterized by a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve where the mean, median, and mode are all equal, positioning them at the center of the distribution. This equality indicates that scores are spread evenly around the central point, which is a fundamental property of normal distributions.

In a typical normal distribution, approximately 68% of the data will fall within one standard deviation of the mean, not just 20%, as the latter relates more closely to a skewed or non-normal distribution. Distinct clusters of scores suggest a bimodal or multimodal distribution, which does not align with the properties of a normal distribution, while a graph resembling the letter J suggests an exponential or skewed distribution. Therefore, the characteristic that accurately reflects a normal distribution is that the mean, median, and mode are all the same, emphasizing the symmetry and balanced nature of the data set.