What is the primary purpose of a test?

The primary purpose of a test is to measure student attainment of learning objectives. This is fundamental in educational settings, as tests serve as a direct assessment tool to evaluate whether students have absorbed the knowledge and skills that were intended to be taught. By aligning tests with specific learning objectives, instructors can determine how well students understand the material and whether they can apply what they have learned in practical situations. This assessment informs both students and educators about learning progress and areas needing improvement.

In this context, while gauging teacher performance, providing diagnostic feedback, and collecting demographic data are important in evaluating the educational process and student populations, they are not the primary objectives of testing. Teacher performance evaluation often derives from broader assessments, feedback may be part of the testing process but is not the central focus, and demographic data collection serves different purposes outside the direct assessment of student learning. Thus, measuring student attainment of learning objectives is essential to ensure that the educational goals are being met effectively.