What aspect of testing does validity indicate?

• A. Whether a test is fair and unbiased
• B. How well the test measures what it is intended to measure
• C. The reliability of the scores obtained
• D. The ease of test administration

Answer: (B)

Validity specifically refers to the degree to which a test measures what it is supposed to measure. For instance, if a test is designed to assess mathematical skills, high validity would indicate that the test accurately evaluates the test-taker's mathematical abilities and not something unrelated, like reading comprehension. This concept is crucial because a test with high validity ensures that the results are meaningful and can be trusted to reflect the intended construct or ability. Thus, the focus is on aligning test content with the respective objectives or competencies that it aims to assess.

In this context, the other aspects mentioned can be important but do not pertain directly to the concept of validity. Fairness and bias, for example, relate more to the equity of test administration and scoring rather than the measure of the content itself. Reliability, on the other hand, is concerned with the consistency of test results over time or across different populations, and ease of test administration pertains to the logistical aspects of conducting a test rather than its measurement effectiveness. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the core definition of validity and its critical role in test construction and interpretation.