Counselor Education Comprehensive Exam (CECE) Practice Exam

In testing, the term "ceiling effect" refers to what?

1. The upper limit of a test score

2. Difficulty in measuring low-level skills

3. The range of variability in scores

4. Student performance exceeding expectations

The correct answer is: The upper limit of a test score

In testing, the term "ceiling effect" specifically refers to a limitation in a test's ability to measure high-level skills, where many test-takers achieve scores at or near the maximum possible score. This phenomenon can make it challenging to differentiate between high performers because they all score similarly at the top end of the scoring scale, effectively hitting the "ceiling." When a test exhibits a ceiling effect, it suggests that the test may not be sensitive enough to capture the full range of abilities among those at the higher end of performance. The upper limit of a test score determines where this effect can occur, as it implies that the scoring system reaches a point where it cannot account for higher levels of ability or achievement among test-takers. Thus, while the other choices deal with different aspects of testing, they do not capture the essence of the ceiling effect as effectively as the option highlighting the upper limit of a test score.