In test classifications, a power test is characterized by:

• A. Items vary in difficulty, and more credit may be given for more difficult items.
• B. Items are always of equal difficulty.
• C. The test is completed in a short time.
• D. The scoring is based solely on the number of correct answers.

Answer: (A)

Power tests differentiate higher ability by including items across a range of difficulties and by giving greater credit for solving the harder items. This design makes the overall score sensitive to how well someone handles challenging tasks, not just how many items they get right. That’s why the statement describing varying item difficulty with more weight for harder items best captures what a power test is. In contrast, a test with all items at the same level, a test designed to be completed quickly, or a scoring scheme that counts only the number of correct answers without weighing item difficulty, wouldn’t implement the same emphasis on discriminating higher ability.