Validity refers to

• A. Consistency of scores
• B. The extent to which the test measures what it is intended to measure
• C. The difficulty level of items
• D. The speed of administration

Answer: (B)

Validity is about whether a test actually measures the concept it’s intended to measure and whether the resulting scores support appropriate interpretations in the right context. This is precisely what the statement “the test measures what it is intended to measure” captures, which is the essence of validity. Other aspects mentioned—consistency of scores describe reliability, item difficulty refers to how hard the items are, and speed of administration concerns how quickly the test can be given—affect different properties of a test but do not define validity itself.