Which term refers to the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to?

The term that refers to the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to is validity. Validity assesses the appropriateness and relevance of the inferences made from test scores, essentially determining how well a test actually evaluates the concept or construct it claims to measure. For instance, a mathematics test that accurately measures mathematical ability would be considered valid, as it serves its intended purpose effectively.

In the context of psychological assessments and research, understanding validity is crucial because it suggests the test’s effectiveness in real-world application and its influence on decision-making. The concepts of reliability and consistency, while important, relate more to the test's stability over time and across different situations rather than to what the test is actually assessing. Accuracy, while it may seem relevant, pertains more to the degree of closeness of the measured values to the true values rather than the broader concept of what the test aims to measure. Therefore, validity is the most precise term in this context.