Skip to main content
Back to Glossary

Competency-Based Education

An approach where progress is measured by what a student can do — competencies and learning outcomes — rather than how much time they spent in class.

In a competency-based classroom, each unit ends with a clear learning outcome (e.g., 'Can compare fractions with unlike denominators'). Students who haven't yet mastered the outcome get more practice; students who have can move on to extension tasks.

The Oxford International Curriculum is competency-aligned by design — every chapter ties to a published learning outcome.

Related terms