A graduating college student takes the Graduate Record Exam and scores high marks. Six months later the student retakes the exam after completing all undergraduate coursework, but scores relatively low. Other than the boring coursework, what is most likely to account for the lower scores?
A)Maturation
B)Testing
C)Instrument decay
D)Regression toward the mean

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Regression toward the mean is the most likely cause for the lower scores on the second exam. This phenomenon suggests that extreme scores, whether high or low, will become less extreme over time and move toward the mean, or average, score on subsequent testing. Thus, the student's low score on the second exam can be explained by the fact that their first score was unusually high, and the second score reflects a return to their actual ability level.

A Graduating College Student Takes the Graduate Record Exam and Scores