Which type of achievement test would measure a student's skills in a specific area?

The type of achievement test that measures a student's skills in a specific area is a special purpose test. These tests are designed with a targeted focus on a particular skill set or content area, allowing educators to assess a student's proficiency in that specific domain. For example, if a test is developed to evaluate reading comprehension in a specific genre of texts, it would qualify as a special purpose achievement test.

The nature of special purpose tests aligns with the objective of gathering detailed information about a student's capabilities in a narrowly defined scope, making them distinct from more general assessments. By concentrating on particular skills and knowledge, they provide valuable insights into a student's strengths and areas that may need further development.

On the other hand, diagnostic tests typically assess a student's current knowledge and abilities in relation to a broader curriculum to inform instruction, while norm-referenced tests compare a student's performance against a larger group to determine relative standing. Formative assessments are designed to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback to improve the teaching and learning process, rather than measuring proficiency in a specific area.