(2026 Exams) Validity (A2 only)

Test yourself on (2026 Exams) Validity (A2 only)

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Validity

Validity is when a test measures what it is intended to measure. There are four types of validity: face, concurrent, ecological and temporal.

Face validity

Face validity is when a participant looks at a test and can tell what it is supposed to measure.
- An example would be a GCSE maths test.
- The students should know what the style of question should look like and the level of difficulty.
- If the student were to see simple addition/subtraction questions, the student would doubt the validity of the test.

Face validity example

Another example would be if a student were to sit a biology paper and see questions in French, the student would doubt the validity.

Concurrent validity

Concurrent validity is when a test will produce the same (or similar) results to a benchmark test.
- An example would be when students write mock exams.
- If a student were to sit similar style papers as their actual GCSE and get similar results, there would be high concurrent validity.

Concurrent validity cont.

Concurrent validity makes sure that similar tests are produced.
This is crucial especially for IQ tests which are given out to thousands of people.
- People would want to know that their IQ was accurately measured even if different tests were given.

Ecological validity

Ecological validity is how well a test reflects real life situations.
- An example would be a driver’s test.
- A learner driver should be able to park, merge, and brake during their test because these will all be real-life scenarios when driving.

Temporal validity

Temporal validity is how well a test’s results stand over time.
- An example would be GCSE results.
- GCSEs should have temporal validity to make sure that over the years, colleges and universities know what A/A* students are capable of.

Assessment of Validity

Validity is when a test measures what it is set out to measure. There are simple ways to make sure a test is valid: looking at the test, comparing the test and predicting results.

Face validity

Looking at a test can be a way to ensure face validity.
- Students know what a French exam looks like. So by simply looking through a French test, they can make sure that the test has face validity.

Ecological validity

This can also be true to assess for ecological validity.
- People know what real-life scenarios they are going to be in. So examining a test for ecological validity is straightforward.

Concurrent validity

Comparing test results to an established test can ensure concurrent validity.
- For example, a new personality test could be benchmarked to an older personality test, allowing for concurrent validity.

Temporal validity

Predicting results on a future test from a past test can ensure temporal validity.
- For example, GCSE teachers will use mock exam results to predict their students’ future grades.
- If the tests are similar (and assuming the student has not revised/improved), then there is temporal validity.