A pretest designed to measure necessary knowledge and skills before a course is called a?

The term that best describes a pretest designed to measure necessary knowledge and skills before a course is a diagnostic test. Diagnostic tests are specifically utilized to evaluate a learner’s existing knowledge and skills to identify strengths and weaknesses prior to instruction. This allows educators to tailor their teaching strategies and course content to meet the specific needs of students.

Criterion-referenced tests measure student performance against a fixed set of criteria or learning standards, rather than assessing how they perform relative to other students. Formative assessments are used during the learning process to monitor student progress and provide ongoing feedback, while summative assessments evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional period, typically through final exams or projects. Each of these other options has a distinct purpose, but in the context of measuring prior knowledge before a course, diagnostic tests are the most relevant.