What makes a goal SMART?

• A. Specific, Measurable, Agreed-upon, Realistic, and Timed.
• B. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
• C. Simple, Manageable, Actionable, Rational, and Timely.
• D. Strategic, Motivating, Attainable, Result-focused, and Timely.

Answer: (B)

SMART goals are built on five clear criteria that make objectives specific, actionable, and trackable. Specific means the outcome is well defined so you know exactly what success looks like. Measurable adds a way to quantify progress or completion, so you can track how close you are to the goal. Achievable ensures the goal is realistic given available resources and constraints, providing a healthy stretch without being unattainable. Relevant keeps the goal tied to broader priorities, ensuring it matters and adds value. Time-bound gives the goal a deadline, creating urgency and a schedule for milestones.

This option matches the common SMART framework with Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, making it the best choice. The other options blend terms that don’t align with the standard SMART criteria (for example, emphasizing agreement, simplicity, or motivation rather than feasibility and alignment), so they don’t capture the full, practical framework as accurately.