A synthetic performance test is a job performance test that has been degraded to some degree in the range of tasks covered or in the fidelity of stimulus/response features. Since further development is needed before synthetic performance testing is valid and efficient, this research project focused on three objectives: to (1) identify problems hindering test efficiency; (2) develop a tentative model of synthetic testing procedures; and (3) explore portions of the model experimentally. Two sources of difficulty in developing efficient performance tests were identified: task conditions and task behavior; synthetic test methods were suggested as appropriate for certain task conditions. A model was developed for synthetic testing, in which a task was characterized in three dimensions--behavioral, skill, and affective. Type of task, task element sampling, and testing method were included as elements of the model. The model was pilot tested by knowledge testing of low-skill tasks as well as synthetic testing of skilled psychomotor tasks; both tasks involved pistol firing. Results indicated that the model is promising. (A sample test for telephone installers is appended). (Author/GDC)