What is a potential drawback of bias in assessments?

Bias in assessments typically undermines the fairness that is essential for accurate and equitable evaluation. When bias is present, it can systematically favor or disadvantage certain groups of individuals based on irrelevant characteristics such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, or cultural background. This results in an uneven playing field where not all students have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills effectively.

Fairness in assessment is crucial because it ensures that the results are a true reflection of a student's abilities rather than an artifact of biased evaluation methods. Therefore, the presence of bias creates significant challenges in upholding this fairness and can negatively impact the conclusions drawn from assessment results, affecting students' opportunities for advancement, educational access, and overall experiences within the educational system.