Final answer:
User Acceptance Testing is the correct term for an independent test conducted by end users before accepting the delivered system. It ensures the system meets user requirements and is capable of performing in real-world scenarios.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the student's question regarding an independent test performed by end users prior to accepting the delivered system is User Acceptance Testing (UAT). UAT is a crucial phase in the software development lifecycle where the intended users of the system test the application to ensure it can handle required tasks in real-world scenarios, according to specifications. This form of testing helps to identify any issues or gaps between the developed system and the user requirements.
As part of the development process, after prototypes are built, they undergo several tests. The importance of testing lies in the need to evaluate whether the design meets all constraints and performs acceptably relative to the criteria. Testing and refinement may take several iterations, as each round of testing can reveal new design characteristics or issues that were not apparent in earlier stages. Test and evaluate is a process not only limited to UAT but integral to various testing phases like system testing, integration testing, and unit testing as well.