An advantage of the competency-based approach to teaching is:

The competency-based approach to teaching emphasizes the attainment of specific skills and knowledge that students must demonstrate before moving on to more advanced topics. This method ensures that learners have a solid understanding and proficiency in fundamental concepts before they engage with more complex material.

By focusing on competencies, instructors can tailor the educational experience to meet individual student needs, allowing each learner to progress at their own pace. This targeted learning path enhances student confidence and mastery, making them better prepared to tackle subsequent challenges in their education or professional training.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary benefits of a competency-based approach. Sticking to a schedule may undermine the flexibility required to support individual learning paces. While increased effort on the instructor's part can sometimes be associated with this teaching method, it is not considered an advantage but rather a challenge. Similarly, while providing extra time for competency can be necessary, it is not inherently advantageous to the teaching method itself.