Which statement describes a standardized test?

• A. Given to groups with strict rules to keep uniform; allows comparisons across populations, ages or grades or over time for individual students
• B. Always open-ended
• C. Cannot be used for diagnostic purposes
• D. Measures creativity exclusively

Answer: (A)

Standardized tests are defined by uniform administration and scoring so every student has the same directions, time limits, and scoring criteria. This consistency makes it possible to compare performance across groups—by age, grade, or population—and to track an individual student’s progress over time, because scores are interpreted against norms or fixed standards rather than subjective judgment. The other statements don’t fit: standardized tests aren’t limited to open-ended items, they can include fixed-response formats, and they can be used in diagnostic contexts; they don’t measure only creativity, but a broad range of skills.