What is the practice effect in testing?

The practice effect refers to the phenomenon where an individual's performance on a test improves due to prior experience or exposure to the test itself. This improvement can occur when a test-taker engages with the same or a similar testing material multiple times, as their familiarity with the questions, structure, and content can lead to better scores in subsequent testing sessions.

Choosing the option about the first testing session influencing scores from the second session captures this idea effectively. When individuals take a test for the first time, they may learn strategies or become accustomed to the question formats, which can lead to enhanced performance on the second attempt.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately capture this concept. A test being too easy does not account for prior exposure to the test format or its content. Familiarity with the test format itself does contribute to the practice effect, but it is the overall influence of initial testing on subsequent performances that defines this phenomenon. Outdated testing materials may impact the relevance or validity of the test but do not inherently relate to practice effects. Thus, the second option provides the most comprehensive understanding of the practice effect in testing contexts.