Which statement best describes the relationship between lesson objectives and performance testing?

• A. Performance tests are independent of the learning objectives.
• B. Performance tests reflect only the presentation.
• C. Performance tests must reflect the lesson objectives.
• D. Performance tests are optional.

Answer: (C)

Performance testing should mirror what students are expected to achieve in the lesson. Lesson objectives describe observable skills or outcomes a learner should demonstrate, and the performance test is the way we measure whether those specific outcomes have been reached. When the assessment is aligned this way, it provides tangible evidence of learning and shows whether students can apply what was taught in real tasks. If the test drifts away from the objectives—focusing on presentation rather than actual ability, or including material not tied to the intended outcomes—it won’t accurately indicate achievement. Making assessment optional undermines the purpose of both instruction and feedback. So, the idea that performance tests must reflect the lesson objectives best captures how evaluation should work.