Which type of formal assessment measures a person's ability to develop a specific skill and is commonly used to place gifted students?

• A. Achievement test
• B. Aptitude test
• C. Diagnostic test
• D. Criterion-referenced test

Answer: (B)

Aptitude is about potential to learn and develop a skill, not what someone has already mastered. An aptitude test estimates how well a person might acquire a new talent or improve in a specific area with study and practice. That’s why it’s commonly used to place gifted students: it helps identify learners who have the capacity for advanced development, even if their current achievement doesn’t yet reflect that potential. In contrast, achievement tests measure what has already been learned, diagnostic tests identify existing weaknesses, and criterion-referenced tests compare performance to a fixed standard.