Which property of assessment refers to advantages or disadvantages for particular groups?

• A. Validity
• B. Reliability
• C. Assessment bias
• D. Fairness

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is how an assessment can affect different groups in unequal ways, which we call assessment bias. Bias shows up when test content, language, or contexts align more with one group’s experiences or knowledge than with another’s, giving some test-takers an unintended advantage or disadvantage that isn’t tied to their true ability. In ESOL contexts, this matters a lot because language usage, cultural references, or familiar scenarios can tilt results toward native speakers or those from certain backgrounds.

Why this fits best: bias is specifically about the presence of systematic impact on particular groups, which is exactly what the item is asking about. Validity and reliability are about whether the test measures what it’s supposed to measure and whether it does so consistently across administrations, regardless of group, so they don’t address differential impact by group. Fairness is related in spirit—everyone should have an equal opportunity—but bias names the specific mechanism by which that fairness can be violated through content or design.

To reduce bias, items can be reviewed for culturally loaded content, language clarity, and relevance to a diverse group of learners; pilot testing with learners from varied backgrounds; and analyses to detect differential item functioning.