In educational contexts, what is typically evaluated by retention tests?

Retention tests primarily assess how much of the learned material can be recalled by students after a certain period. These tests focus specifically on the retention of information, which indicates how well the content has been committed to memory and subsequently retrieved. Success in a retention test demonstrates that the learning objectives related to memory and recall have been met, showcasing the student's ability to remember and retrieve information over time.

The other options, while relevant to educational assessments, do not specifically align with the concept of a retention test. The capacity to learn new information pertains more to formative assessments that gauge initial understanding or learning capability, while degree of engagement assesses participation and involvement during the learning process. Effectiveness of instructional strategies leans towards evaluating the teaching methods and their impact on learning rather than directly measuring information recall. Retention tests focus squarely on the ability to remember previously acquired knowledge.