Which statement best defines reliability in testing?

• A. The test measures what it intends to measure
• B. The consistency of scores across repeated administrations
• C. The degree to which test content is fair to all groups
• D. The test's ability to predict future performance

Answer: (B)

Reliability is about consistency of results. If the same student takes the test again or if different scorers rate the same performance, the scores should be very similar. In physical education, this means using a skill checklist or fitness test that yields stable, dependable results across trials and observers. It’s important to note that reliability does not by itself guarantee that a test is measuring what it should measure—that’s validity. A test can be reliable (consistent) but not valid if it isn’t really testing the intended attribute, whereas a valid test should also be reliable. The other ideas describe validity, fairness, or predictive ability, not the consistency of scores.