What is adaptive testing designed to do?

Adaptive testing is designed to tailor the level of difficulty of questions based on the test-taker's previous answers. This means that as a person answers correctly, the test will present more challenging questions, and if they answer incorrectly, the questions will become easier in order to assess their proficiency accurately. This approach allows for a more efficient assessment of a test-taker's abilities and knowledge level.

In this context, reducing test-taking time while still evaluating proficiency is a key benefit of adaptive testing. It means that the test can more quickly arrive at an accurate measure of a person's skill level without requiring the same number of questions that would be necessary in a traditional, non-adaptive test format.

While the option you selected emphasizes reducing test-taking time, the essence of adaptive testing fundamentally lies in adjusting the difficulty based on individual performance, thus providing a highly personalized assessment experience. This personal adaptation is what allows the test to reach a valid conclusion about a candidate's abilities in a more efficient manner.