Final answer:
Predictive power refers to the degree test scores can forecast future performance, particularly in standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. SAT scores have shown high predictive validity for college GPA, though it's important to differentiate this from reliability, which is about consistency of measurement, not accuracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Predictive Validity in Standardized Tests
The degree to which test scores accurately forecast future behavior or performance is referred to as predictive power. When discussing standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT, we often assess their predictive validity—the test's ability to predict academic outcomes, like college GPA. While reliability is concerned with consistency of measurement (for example, the consistent result of a scale when measuring cereal), validity measures accuracy, determining whether a test measures what it is intended to. Research by the College Board suggests that SAT scores possess high predictive validity for forecasting the GPA of first-year college students. However, one has to be mindful that reliability does not guarantee validity, as a test might be consistently wrong, and hence not valid, if it is not properly calibrated.
Standardization and norming are critical to ensuring that test scores are comparable across different populations. A test is standardized when it has been administered to a representative sample, allowing for consistent scoring and interpretation of results.