Screening: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Screening

Sample item

What property is especially useful for confirming disease after a positive test?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. High specificity

A highly specific test has few false positives, so a positive result more strongly supports disease when used in an appropriate clinical context.

Option by option

  • A. High sensitivity

    Sensitivity is most useful for minimizing false negatives.

  • B. High false-negative rate

    A high false-negative rate weakens screening performance.

  • C. High specificity (correct)

    Correct: specificity improves confidence in a positive result.

  • D. Low sample size

    Sample size is a study-design issue, not test specificity.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, High specificity. A highly specific test has few false positives, so a positive result more strongly supports disease when used in an appropriate clinical context.

Why is "High sensitivity" not the answer?

Sensitivity is most useful for minimizing false negatives.

Why is "High false-negative rate" not the answer?

A high false-negative rate weakens screening performance.

Why is "Low sample size" not the answer?

Sample size is a study-design issue, not test specificity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Screening in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct: specificity improves confidence in a positive result.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Screening?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.