What characteristic ensures that assessments are given consistently to everyone?

The characteristic that ensures assessments are given consistently to everyone is reliability. Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of assessment results over time and across different populations. When an assessment is reliable, it means that a student's performance is likely to be similar each time the assessment is administered, assuming the same level of knowledge and skills.

Reliability is crucial in ensuring fairness in assessments; it helps educators and stakeholders trust that the results reflect true student learning rather than variations in test conditions or interpretation. If an assessment lacks reliability, it may yield different results for the same student on different occasions or under different circumstances, making it difficult to draw valid conclusions about their knowledge and abilities.

While the other characteristics listed may relate to the overall quality and purpose of assessments, they do not specifically address the aspect of consistency across all test-takers. Validity refers to how well an assessment measures what it is intended to measure, criterion relates to the comparison of assessment outcomes to external standards, and summative pertains to assessments that evaluate learning at the end of an instructional period. These aspects are important but do not specifically ensure consistent administration across all individuals taking the assessment.