What is basal?

• A. The specific number of sequential items that must be answered correctly before continuing.
• B. The maximum items you can answer.
• C. The total sum across subtests.
• D. The time limit for testing.

Answer: (A)

Basal is the starting-point criterion used in many standardized tests. It is the specific number of sequential items that must be answered correctly before you begin scoring from that point and continuing with the rest of the items. This allows you to establish a starting level appropriate to the examinee’s ability and to skip items that are already mastered. If you don’t reach that number of consecutive correct responses at the current level, you work with easier items until you meet the criterion, thereby setting the basal. The other ideas—how many items you can answer in total, the sum of scores across subtests, or the time limit—are different concepts and not what basal means.