Competency-based education allows students to move at their own pace based on which factor?

Competency-based education is designed to enable learners to progress through their coursework based on their understanding and mastery of the material, rather than the amount of time they spend in a classroom setting. This approach emphasizes individual learning needs and recognizes that students can demonstrate knowledge and skills at different rates.

By focusing on mastery of course material, students can advance once they have effectively demonstrated their understanding, which fosters a more personalized learning experience. This method encourages deeper engagement with the content, as students are not just trying to "get through" a course based on a fixed timeline but are instead aiming to achieve a thorough understanding before moving on.

The other options focus on factors that do not directly relate to a student's actual learning and proficiency in the subject matter. For instance, time spent in the classroom does not necessarily equate to understanding; participation in extracurricular activities does not impact mastery of academic content; and recommendations from peers might contribute to social learning but do not measure individual competency in the subject matter.