What does a raw score indicate?

A raw score is simply a direct measure of a person's performance on a test or assessment, reflecting the total number of responses or points earned based on the criteria of that specific test. It provides a straightforward count of how many items a respondent answered correctly or the total points they accumulated, without any adjustments or comparisons to others.

The other options involve more complex interpretations of scores. For instance, comparing an individual's score to others (the first choice) would typically require a derived score, such as a percentile or z-score. Similarly, determining whether a score falls within the top quartile (the second choice) necessitates an understanding of the distribution of scores and relative ranking among test-takers. Assessing how many standard deviations a score is from the mean (the third choice) also requires additional statistical analysis, which goes beyond the definition of a raw score. Therefore, while all of the other options pertain to score interpretations and implications, they do not accurately define what a raw score is, making the chosen answer the most fitting.