• Specificity - Tailored for a particular purpose.
• Accuracy - Providing correct results.
• Reliability - Consistent results over multiple trials.
• Validity - Measures exactly what it's intended to.

• Tells us the ultimate limit someone can go, like their VO2max (maximum rate of oxygen consumption) or the heaviest weight they can lift.
• Pros: Hits all four criteria.
• Cons
  • Not everyone's comfortable pushing themselves to the limit.
  • Newbies might stop early fearing injury.

Real-World Example: Imagine trying to find out the fastest someone can run. You might ask them to sprint as fast as possible. That's a maximal test!

• Doesn't push someone to their absolute limit. Instead, it gauges their performance at a lower level and then estimates their max.
• Why use it?
  • Ideal for those not used to hardcore exercises, like children or the elderly.
  • Removes anxiety and risks associated with max tests.

Real-World Example: It's like checking how comfortably you can jog and then predicting your fastest sprint. This way, grandma doesn't have to become Usain Bolt overnight!