Which description fits an indirect test?

Which description fits an indirect test?

• A. Indirect test
• B. Direct test
• C. Diagnostic test
• D. Proficiency test

Answer: (A)

Indirect testing infers the target ability from related indicators rather than requiring the test-taker to perform the exact task. In this item, the description that itself identifies the approach as indirect fits best, because it signals that the evidence comes from an indirect method rather than from direct demonstration of the skill.

Think of it this way: a direct test asks you to show the skill in action, like producing a performance in the real context. A diagnostic test looks for specific weaknesses in components of the skill, not just overall ability. A proficiency test measures overall competence without focusing on particular instructional tasks. An indirect test, by contrast, uses related clues or proxies to infer the level of the target ability.

For example, if you want to assess speaking ability indirectly, you might use a questionnaire about speaking strategies or a multiple-choice task targeting vocabulary knowledge that supports speaking, rather than having the learner deliver an actual extended speech.