For decades there have been attempts to develop tests that are fair to people from different backgrounds. The Fundamental Achievement Series (FAS) is a recent attempt to develop a test that is fair to those considered disadvantaged. In addition to the traditional kinds of items, the FAS incorporates relevant items, tapping verbal and numerical abilities required in common everyday situations. A comparison of responses to relevant items and traditional ones suggests that, when testing disadvantaged adults, it is important to use the more relevant items. Item analysis indicated that on the FAS numerical test, the relevant items were easier, yet had higher discrimination indices. On the verbal test, the relevant items worked as well as the traditional items. The FAS is not free of cultural bias; differences in test performance do occur between blacks and whites. Performance on both parts of the FAS is related to reading ability. However, adults with poor reading skills have an advantage on the FAS that is not present on traditional paper and pencil tests: the instructions for the FAS are played on a tape recorder. (Author/CTM)