In the SMART goal example, which SMART element is missing from 'Johnny will verbally answer all questions asked of him by his teacher regardless of the topic or question type with 80% across three opportunities'?

• A. Specific
• B. Timely
• C. Measurable
• D. Achievable

Answer: (D)

In SMART goals, the target should be realistically achievable given the learner’s abilities and supports. The statement tries to set a clear behavior and a performance level, but it mixes two competing demands: “answer all questions” and “80% across three opportunities.” If Johnny is expected to answer every question every time, the 80% benchmark across opportunities becomes inconsistent and may be unattainable in real life, making the goal not realistically doable. Achievable ensures the goal is challenging yet within reach, considering resources, prompts, and typical variability in performance. A more fitting version would state that Johnny will verbally answer at least 80% of questions asked across three opportunities, or that he will answer questions with supports to reach that 80% across three opportunities. The other SMART elements—being specific, measurable, time-bound, and relevant—are present, but the goal needs to be framed in a way that remains feasible.