What defines a learning objective?

• A. A general goal with no measures.
• B. A specific, measurable statement detailing what the learner will be able to do.
• C. A timetable for the course.
• D. A list of topics to cover.

Answer: (B)

A learning objective is a precise, observable statement about what the learner will be able to do after instruction, and it must be measurable. This gives a clear target for both teaching and assessment, because you can observe whether the learner performed the specified action and measure how well they did it. Using an action verb that denotes an observable behavior, along with a condition or context and a criterion when appropriate, turns vague intent into something you can test and track progress against. For example, instead of a vague goal like “learn fractions,” a well-written objective would be “solve 20 mixed-number addition problems with at least 85% accuracy without a calculator.” That specificity is what makes the objective reliable for guiding instruction and assessing success. General goals, schedules, or a list of topics don’t provide the observable, measurable outcome that defines when learning has occurred.