Applicable to performance testing of biometric systems without detailed knowledge of the comparison algorithms or of the underlying distribution of biometric characteristics in the population of interest. It defines a common biometric access control scenario for use in scenario evaluation of biometric verification systems; provides a grading scheme for expressing quantitative biometric system requirements and performance levels; provides a common basis for conducting scenario evaluations to demonstrate that specified performance grades are being achieved which is adaptable to particular testing facilities and to specific biometric systems.