TABLE OF SPECIFICATIONS

A table of specification (TOS) is a tool that is used in the development and evaluation of
assessments, such as tests or exams. It is a grid or matrix that outlines the topics or content
areas
that will be covered in the assessment, as well as the specific skills or objectives that will be
measured. The TOS is used to ensure that the assessment is fair and comprehensive, and that
it
aligns with the learning objectives or goals of the course or program. It is an important part of
the
assessment process, as it helps to ensure that the assessment is valid and reliable, and that it
accurately reflects the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are being
evaluated.

table of specifications (TOS) also known as a test blueprint or an assessment blueprint

─ a tool that educators use to plan and design tests and assessments. It is a document that
outlines the topics and skills that will be covered on a test, along with the relative weight or
importance of each topic.

─is typically organized in a grid format, with rows representing the specific topics or skills that
will be assessed and columns representing the number of questions or points that will be
devoted to each topic. The purpose of a table of specifications is to ensure that a test or
assessment is balanced and fair, covering a range of topics and skills in a way that is
appropriate for the intended purpose of the test.

EXERCISE
Select the best answer. Write the letter of your choice before the item number.

1. Which of the following is NOT a purpose of a table of specifications?

a) To ensure that a test or assessment adequately covers the material that has been taught
b) To guide the development of the test or assessment
c) To balance the number of questions on a test or assessment based on the importance or
emphasis of each topic
d) To identify the specific learning objectives or outcomes that a test or assessment is designed
to measure
e) To evaluate the effectiveness of a test or assessment in terms of its reliability and
validity

2. Which of the following is NOT a common element of a table of specifications?

a) The name of the course or subject being tested

b) The specific learning objectives or outcomes being measured
c) The number of questions or points allocated to each topic
d) The difficulty level of each question
e) The total time allowed for the test

Explanation: A table of specifications is a tool used to plan and organize a test or assessment,
and it typically includes elements such as the name of the course or subject, the specific
learning objectives, and the number of questions or points allocated to each topic. However, the
difficulty level of each question is not typically included in the table of specifications. The
difficulty level of each question is generally determined during the test development process and
is not typically included in the table of specifications.

3. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using a table of specifications when creating a test
or assessment?

a) It helps to ensure that the test or assessment covers all of the relevant material

b) It helps to balance the number of questions or points allocated to each topic

c) It helps to identify the specific learning objectives or outcomes being measured

d) It helps to reduce the overall length of the test or assessment

e) It helps to improve the reliability and validity of the test or assessment

Explanation: A table of specifications is a tool used to plan and organize a test or assessment,
and it can provide benefits such as ensuring that the test covers all relevant material, balancing
the number of questions or points allocated to each topic, and identifying the specific learning
objectives being measured. However, the table of specifications does not directly impact the
reliability or validity of the test or assessment. Reliability and validity are characteristics that are
related to the quality of the test or assessment, but they are not directly affected by the table of
specifications.

1. What is a table of specification primarily used for?

a) To identify the goals and objectives of a lesson or course
b) To align the content of a lesson or course with the goals of a test or
assessment
c) To create a detailed outline of the topics and skills that will be covered on
a test d) All of the above

2. A table of specification typically includes columns for:

a) The number of items or questions for each topic
b) The weight or percentage of the test that each topic will represent
c) The topics or skills that will be covered on the test
d) All of the above

3. Which of the following is NOT typically included in a table of specification?

a) The percentage of the test that each topic will represent
b) The specific learning objectives for each topic
c) The number of items or questions for each topic
d) The instructional materials that will be used to teach each topic
 4. In which of the following settings might a table of specification be used? a) Classrooms
b) Professional development programs
c) Certification exams
d) All of the above

5. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using a table of specification? a) It helps

ensure that a test accurately reflects the content and goals of a lesson or course
b) It allows teachers to easily identify areas of the curriculum that need more focus
c) It allows for the creation of more challenging test questions
d) It reduces the amount of time needed to create and administer a test

6. What is the primary purpose of the weight or percentage column in a table of

specification?
a) To indicate the relative importance of each topic
b) To determine the total number of items or questions on the test
c) To calculate the final grades of students
d) To determine the length of the test

7. Which of the following is NOT a common way to create a table of specification?

a) By reviewing the curriculum and identifying key topics and skills
b) By analyzing previous test data to identify strengths and weaknesses c) By
consulting with experts in the field
d) By randomly selecting topics and skills

8. In a table of specification, the number of items or questions for each topic should be:
a) As high as possible to challenge students
b) As low as possible to save time
c) Proportional to the weight or percentage of the test that each topic
represents
d) Equal for all topics

9. When creating a table of specification, it is important to:

a) Keep the number of topics and skills covered on the test as small as possible
b) Cover as many topics and skills as possible, even if they are not directly related
to the lesson or course
c) Consider the level of difficulty and complexity of the items or questions d)
All of the above

1. What is a table of specification used for?

a) To organize content for a test or assessment
b) To evaluate the effectiveness of a lesson or instructional material
c) To measure the progress of students
d) All of the above

Answer: a) To organize content for a test or assessment

 2. What does a table of specification typically include?
a) Columns for the topics or skills covered on the test
b) Rows for the number of items or questions for each topic
c) A column for the weight or percentage of the test each topic represents
d) All of the above

3. In what settings can a table of specification be used?

a) Classrooms
b) Professional development programs
c) Certification exams
d) All of the above

4. Who might use a table of specification?

a) Teachers
b) Instructional designers
c) Educators
d) All of the above

5. True or False: A table of specification is only useful for multiple-choice tests.

a) True b) False

6. Which of the following is NOT an example of a higher-order level question?

a) Which of the following is NOT a type of rock?
b) How does the process of metamorphism transform rocks?
c) Name three types of rocks.
d) What is the capital of France?

Answer: a) Which of the following is NOT a type of rock?

7. How can a table of specification help ensure that a test accurately reflects the content
and goals of a lesson or course?
a) By including a column for the weight or percentage of the test that each topic represents
b) By organizing the content into clear and organized topics and skills
c) By including rows for the number of items or questions for each topic

d) All of the above

8. True or False: A table of specification is only useful for tests and assessments.

a) True b) False

9. How can a table of specification benefit teachers and instructional designers?

a) It allows them to clearly align the content of a lesson or course with the goals of the
material
b) It helps them ensure that a test or assessment accurately reflects the content that
has been taught
c) It allows them to measure the progress of their students
d) All of the above
10. True or False: A table of specification is only used in educational settings.

a) True b) False

11. What is the primary purpose of a Table of Specifications (TOS)?

A) To assess students' knowledge and skills
B) To guide lesson planning
C) To track student progress
D) To evaluate the effectiveness of a curriculum

Correct answer: A (To assess students' knowledge and skills) Explanation: A Table of
Specifications (TOS) is a tool used to align test questions with the learning objectives of
a course or curriculum. It is used to ensure that a test covers the material that students
are expected to know and be able to do. The primary purpose of a TOS is to assess
students' knowledge and skills, but it can also be used for other purposes such as
guiding lesson planning, tracking student progress, and evaluating the effectiveness of a
curriculum.

2. Which of the following is NOT a component of a Table of Specifications?

A) Learning objectives
B) Test questions
C) Test format
D) Student names
Correct answer: D (Student names) Explanation: A Table of Specifications typically
includes the learning objectives of a course or curriculum, the test questions that will
be used to assess students' knowledge and skills, and the format of the test (e.g.
multiple-choice, short answer, essay). It does not include student names because it
is a tool for designing and aligning tests, not for tracking individual student progress.
3. How is a Table of Specifications used to align test questions with learning objectives?
A) By assigning a weight to each learning objective based on its importance
B) By creating a list of test questions for each learning objective
C) By grouping test questions by topic or content area
D) Both A and B
Correct answer: D (Both A and B) Explanation: A Table of Specifications is used to
align test questions with learning objectives by assigning a weight to each learning
objective based on its importance and by creating a list of test questions for each
learning objective. This helps to ensure that the test covers the material that
students are expected to know and be able to do, and that the test questions reflect
the relative importance of each learning objective. Grouping test questions by topic
or content area is not typically part of the process of aligning test questions with
learning objectives using a TOS.
4. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using a Table of Specifications?
A) It ensures that test questions are aligned with learning
objectives
B) It helps to prevent teacher bias in the selection of test
questions
C) It allows for the efficient and effective use of class time
D) It increases student motivation
 Correct answer: D (It increases student motivation) Incidentally, it is important to design
tests that are motivating and engaging for students, but this is not a direct benefit of
using a TOS. Explanation: A Table of Specifications is a tool that has several benefits
in the assessment of students' knowledge and skills. It ensures that test questions are
aligned with learning objectives, helps to prevent teacher bias in the selection of test
questions, and allows for the efficient and effective use of class time. However, it does
not directly increase student motivation.

5. How can a Table of Specifications be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a curriculum?

A) By comparing students' test scores with the learning objectives of the curriculum B)
By reviewing the test questions and learning objectives to ensure that they are aligned
C) By comparing students' test scores to the scores of students in other schools or
districts
D) Both A and B

Correct answer: D (Both A and B) Explanation: A Table of Specifications can be used to

evaluate the effectiveness of a curriculum by comparing students' test scores with the
learning objectives of the curriculum and by reviewing the test questions and learning
objectives to ensure that they are aligned. This helps to determine whether the
curriculum is effectively helping students to achieve the intended learning outcomes.
Comparing students' test scores to the scores of students in other schools or districts is
not typically part of the process of evaluating the effectiveness of a curriculum using a
TOS.