Which of the following is a characteristic of a SMART goal?

• A. Ambiguous
• B. Time-bound
• C. Unmeasurable
• D. Undefined

Answer: (B)

Time-bound is the feature SMART goals require: a specific deadline or timeframe that anchors the goal and creates a clear schedule for action and progress checks. Having a deadline helps you plan steps, set priorities, and determine when the goal has been reached. Without a time frame, goals can drift and become less motivating or harder to measure.

Other descriptors describe what a goal should avoid to stay SMART: ambiguity means unclear what you’re aiming for; unmeasurable means you can’t quantify progress; undefined means there’s no precise scope. All of these would make a goal fail the SMART criteria, whereas adding a concrete deadline keeps it actionable and trackable. For example, aiming to increase sales by 10% by the end of the quarter demonstrates both a measurable target and a time-bound deadline, illustrating the requested characteristic.