Ministry of Education

Test Blueprint for National Exit Examination to be held in

2015 E.C

Band: One

Program: - Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and

Engineering

Compiled By: Dr. Tilahun Melak (ASTU)

Ayenew Yifru (ASTU)

February, 2023
Bishoftu, Ethiopia
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1

2. Objective of Exit Exam ...................................................................................................... 2

3. Graduate Profile .................................................................................................................. 3

4. Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 3

4.1. General objective/Outcome ......................................................................................... 3

4.2. Specific objectives/Outcome ....................................................................................... 3

5. Themes and list of courses with credit hours ..................................................................... 4

6. Share of the Themes/Courses/Items in percentage (%) ...................................................... 5

7. Course to Learning Domain Mapping ................................................................................ 6

8. Blueprint Table ................................................................................................................... 7

9. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 11

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1. Introduction

The field of computing has widely influenced science, engineering, business, education, and
many other areas of discipline. In today’s world almost everyone is using computers in their
day to day activity. From smartphones and televisions to guidance systems, computing
continues to be present in human life. This computing landscape offers students many new
career opportunities. For those who are working in industry and government, computing is and
will continue to be an essential component. The computing disciplines need to attract quality
students from a broad and diverse cross-section of the public and prepare them to be capable
and responsible professionals. Currently we are in the era of shift from knowledge-based
learning to competency-based learning. Competency requires demonstration of human
behavior with knowledge and skills. In general terms, one can think of competencies as the
qualities an individual must possess to be effective in a job, role, function, task, or duty. Higher
educations in Ethiopia offers different computing fields to meet the needed unmet manpower
of the country in the area of computing. Computer science and engineering is one of these fields
which is a five year engineering program. Computer science and engineering curriculum was
designed to offer high-quality basic and advanced courses to help students obtain broad
knowledge, skill and attitude.

In order to improve the quality of graduates produced by higher learning institutions, the
Ministry has announced the implementation of exit exam for all undergraduate program
students (public and private), beginning with the 2022/2023 academic year. The exit exam
aimed to evaluate students’ required knowledge, skills and attitudes. To implement this, it
requires determining competency areas for a specific program. With this regard, the
competency areas for computer science and engineering program was prepared in 2022.

The next step in the overall process of exit exam is planning a test. It is vital step in the
construction of an achievement test. An achievement test demands very systematic and careful
planning. Tests are the tools that provide scores that measure level of student learning outcomes
of the program. In order to achieve the valid and reliable measurement of student learning and
program learning outcomes, the development of valid and reliable test is the mandatory. With
this aspect the test blueprint of computer science and engineering has been prepared. The test
is aimed to measure student performance in all dimensions of knowledge, skill and attitude. It

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is believed that the blueprint contributes to the improvement of the overall quality of the test
in terms content validity, difficulty level, discrimination power and test reliability.

This test blueprint of computer science and engineering is believed to help to ensure tests: 1)
Appropriately assess the achievement of instructional objectives of the course; 2)
Appropriately reflect key course goals, objectives and the material learned or covered during
the instruction period; and 3) Include the appropriate item formats along with the knowledge,
skills and attitude being assessed. The rest of the test blue print of computer science and
engineering document comprises of objective/ significance of test blueprint preparation,
expected profile of the graduates, objectives, themes and list of courses with credit hours,
blueprint table and conclusion.

2. Objective of Exit Exam

The national computer science and engineering exit exam prepared by the ministry shall have
the following objectives:

 To produce skilled and competent work force for the national and international work
market in the field.
 Assessing students’ educational achievement in major areas/themes of computer
science and engineering (CSE).
 Ensuring whether the graduation profile of CSE curriculum have achieved learning
domains of knowledge, technical skills, and attitudes in computer science and
engineering working environment.
 Improving public trust and confidence in computer science and engineering graduates
in their professional’s activities.
 Facilitating the efforts of students to revise the core learning outcomes of the courses
covered by the exit examination.
 Ensuring all graduates from HEIs satisfy the requirements of the labor market and
employability through the national wide implementation of competency-based exit
exam in the field of computer science and engineering.
 Creating competitive spirit among similar departments in Ethiopia to advance their
teaching learning processes to give due attention to the national and international
standards in the field.

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3. Graduate Profile

This exit exam is expected to measure the computer science and engineering graduates’
knowledge, skill and attitude so that they should have;

 An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering

 An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyse and interpret data
 An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within
realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health
and safety, feasibility, and sustainability
 An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
 Ability to perform activities ethically and professionally.

4. Objectives

4.1. General objective/Outcome

Ability to identify, formulate, analyze, and solve complex real world problems by applying
knowledge, skill and attitude of computer science and engineering.

4.2. Specific objectives/Outcome

The graduates will have the ability

 to design, implement, and evaluate a computing or engineering solution to meet a

given set of requirements,
 to apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce
computing-based solutions.
 to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation analyze and interpret data, and
use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
 to communicate effectively with the computing and engineering community about
complex computing and engineering activities.
 to make informed judgments in engineering and computing practice by recognizing
ethical, legal and professional responsibilities.

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  to function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities of
computer science and engineering.
 to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

5. Themes and list of courses with credit hours

In the computer science and engineering competency areas, themes and courses have been
identified. The identified themes and list of courses with credit hour have been shown in the
following table.

Table 1. Themes and list of courses with credit hours

Theme Courses Course Credit Theme

Hour Credit Hour
Fundamentals of Programming 3 12
Programming and Object Oriented Programming 3
Algorithms 3
Algorithms
Data Structure and Algorithms 3
Fundamentals of Software 3 10
Engineering
System Database Systems 4
Development
Project Management 3
Digital Logic Design 3 10
Computer Computer organization and 3
Architecture and OS architecture
Operating System 4
Computer Data Communication and 4 4
Networking and Computer Networking
Security

Compiler and Formal Language & Automata 3 3

Complexity Theory

Intelligent Systems Introduction to Artificial 3 3

Intelligence

Total Credit 42

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6. Share of the Themes/Courses/Items in percentage (%)

The respective shares of each theme and course in percentage has been calculated based on the
formula. The following table lists each theme and course share with respect to the department
exit exam.

Table 2: Share of the Themes/Courses/Items in percentage (%)

Theme Theme Share Courses Course Course

(%) Credit Hour Share (%)
28.6% Fundamentals of 3 7.1%
Programming Programming
and Algorithms Object Oriented 3 7.1%
Programming
Algorithms 3 7.1%
Data Structure and 3 7.1%
Algorithms
23.8% Fundamentals of 3 7.1%
Software
System Engineering
Development Database Systems 4 9.5%
Project Management 3 7.1%
23.8% Digital Logic Design 3 7.1%
Computer Computer 3 7.1%
Architecture and organization and
OS architecture
Operating System 4 9.5%
Computer 9.5% Data Communication 4 9.5%
Networking and and Computer
Security Networking
Compiler and 7.1% Formal Language & 3 7.1%
Complexity Automata Theory
Intelligent 7.1% Introduction to 3 7.1%
Systems Artificial
Intelligence
Total theme 100% Total Course share 100%
share

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7. Course to Learning Domain Mapping

The following table maps a list of courses with their learning outcomes in three learning
domains; knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Table 3: Course to Learning Domain Mapping

No Course Title Credit Knowledge Skill Attitude Theme

Hour

1 Fundamentals of 3 √ √ √
Programming

2 Object Oriented 3 √ √ √
Programming Programming and
Algorithms
3 Data Structure and 3 √ √
Algorithms

4 Algorithms 3 √ √

5 Database Systems 4 √ √ √

6 Fundamentals of 3 √ √ √ System Development

Software Engineering

7 Project Management 3 √ √ √

8 Digital Logic Design 3 √ √

9 Computer organization 3 √ √ √ Computer

and architecture Architecture and OS

10 Operating System 4 √ √ √

11 Data Communication 4 √ √ Computer

and Computer Networking and
Networking Security

12 Formal Language & 3 √ Compiler and

Automata Theory Complexity

13 Intelligent systems 3 √ √ √ Introduction to

Artificial Intelligence

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8. Blueprint Table
Table 4.Test Blueprint Specification for BSC in Computer Science and Engineering
Learning outcomes
Cognitive
Themes and Name and

Share of items in %
Share of the Share of the Credit Learning outcomes

Creation/Synthesis
themes in % Courses in % hour

Understanding
Remembering

Psychomotor
Application

Evaluation

Affective
Analysis
Programming Fundamentals 3 Describe the basics of C++ programming-syntax and 1 1 - - - - - - 7
and Algorithms of semantic elements of the programming.
Programming Use the control flow structures and functions to solve a - - 1 1 - - - -
(28.6 %) (7.1 %) given problem.
Develop a mini application that solves a real world - - - - - 1 1 1
problem using C++
Object Oriented 3 Discuss the object oriented programing concepts such 1 1 - - - - - - 8
Programming as data abstraction, encapsulation, information hiding,
(7.1%) inheritance and polymorphism.
Apply the object oriented concepts to solve the real - - 1 1 1 - - -
world problem using Java
Develop GUI based java applications to solve real a - - - - - 1 1 1
world problems
Data Structures 3 Analyze the performance of different algorithms in - - - 1 1 - - - 7
and Algorithm terms of time and space complexity.
(7.1 %) Apply the right kind of linear and non-linear data - - - 2 1 - 1 -
structure for efficient problem solving.
Evaluate the runtime and memory efficiency of - - - - 1 - - -
principal algorithms for sorting, searching, and hashing.

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 Algorithms 3 Compare various solutions and choose an appropriate - - - - 2 - - - 7
(7.1 %) algorithm for the problem in hand.
Explain the reason behind tractability and performance - 2 - - - - - -
of different algorithms under varying conditions like
input, parameters and other constraints.
Propose approximate alternative solutions for - - 1 1 - 1 - -
computationally untraceable and new problems in
computer science and other disciplines.
System Fundamentals Explain well-known Software development process - 2 - - - - - - 7
Development of Software 3 models.
Engineering Discuss about the software requirements engineering - 1 - - - - - -
(23.8 %) (7.1 %) processes, methods, tools and techniques.
Apply object oriented software design, methods, - - 2 - - - 1 -
quality attributes, architectural design decisions and
architectural views.
Discover what software testing maintenance is with - - - - 1 - - -
respect to change and maintenance, factors of
maintenance cost, type of maintenance and
maintenance model.
Describe basic concepts of database systems, models 1 1 - - - - - - 10
Database 4 such as entity relationship diagrams (ERD) and
Systems relational database.
(9.5%) Apply principles of minimization redundancy in a - - 1 2 - - - 1
database, normalization theory for database design.
Analyze transaction management and concurrency - - - - 1 - 1 -
control of data processing and how to manage them by
different techniques, and database recovery.
Apply query optimization, database security - - 1 - - - 1 -
techniques.
Project 3 Understand what to manage in project, focused on - 1 - - - - 1 - 7
Management project success as defined by project stakeholders.
(7.1%) Analyze conscious control of budgets (cost) and - - - 2 - - - -
timelines (time spent) for completion of project
satisfying and assessing stakeholders’ needs.

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 Apply the quality assurance (QA), which is the process - - 1 - - - - -
of evaluating overall project performance on a regular
basis to provide confidence that the project will satisfy
the relevant quality standards.
Evaluate factors for successful Projects, create project - - - - 1 - 1 -
plan, as well as reasons for failure based on specific
case studies in the context of effective Risk
Management.
Computer Digital Logic 3 Distinguish the analog and digital systems and apply - 1 - - - - - - 7
Architecture and Design positional notations, number systems and computer
OS (7.1%) codes in digital systems.
(23.8 %) Apply Boolean algebra and Karnaugh maps to simplify - - 2 - - - - 1
and design logic circuits.
Apply the concept of combinational and sequential - - 2 - - - - 1
circuits in designing a digital system.
Computer 3 Illustrate various elementary concepts of computer 1 1 1 - - - - - 7
organization architecture including, syntax of register transfer
and architecture language, micro operations, instruction cycle, and
(7.1%) control unit.
Describe the design of basic computer with instruction - 2 - - - - - -
formats & addressing modes
Interpret the concepts of pipelining, multiprocessors, - 1 1 - - - - -
and inter processor communication
Operating 4 Describe the fundamental concepts of a computer 1 1 - - - - - - 9
System operating systems.
(9.5%) Discuss the procedures for scheduling, deadlocks, 1 1 - - - - - -
memory management, process synchronization, system
calls, and file systems.
Discuss how the operating systems manages the storage 1 1 - - - - - -
and retrieval of data in storage devices as well as
current technologies of mass storage structures.
Implement fundamental OS structures, including - - 2 1 - - - -
Processes, system calls, scheduling, virtual memory,
and file systems

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 Computer Data 4 Identify basic concepts, principles and applications of 1 1 - - - - - - 10
Networking and Communication data communication and computer networking in order
Security and Computer to understand the working principles of computer
(9.5 %) Networking networking.
(9.5 %) Apply protocols in layering architecture (OSI and - 1 3 - - - - 1
TCP/IP)
Analyze the evolving trends of networking - - - 2 - - 1 -
technologies, topologies and application in LAN to
WAN.
Compiler and Formal 3 Acquire insights into the relationship among formal 1 1 - - - - - - 7
Complexity Language & languages, formal grammars, and automata.
(7.1 %) Automata Design a deterministic finite state machine to accept a - - - - 1 1 - -
Theory specified language.
(7.1%) Convert among equivalently powerful notations for a - - 1 1 1 - - -
language, including among DFAs, NFAs, and regular
expressions, and between PDAs and CFGs.
Intelligent Introduction to 3 Discuss the basic principles of AI and different types of - 1 - - - - - - 7
Systems Artificial AI agents.
(7.1 %) Intelligence Apply knowledge representation, reasoning, and - - 1 - - - - -
(7.1 %) machine learning techniques to real-world problems.
Identify various AI search algorithms. - 1 - - - - - -
Demonstrate working knowledge of reasoning in the - - 1 1 - - - -
presence of incomplete and/or uncertain information.
Develop a simple knowledge-based system. - - - - 1 - 1 -
Total Number of Items 9 22 22 15 12 4 10 6 100
Share of domain in % 84% 10% 6% 100%

Key: In the cells/boxes there are numbers that indicate the number of items that correspond to the levels of domains.
𝑎
o Share of themes (T) = 𝑥100, Where “a” is the credit hour of a theme and “b” is the total credit hour of the program. Credit hour of a theme is the sum of
𝑏
credit hours of courses in the theme.
𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑡 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒
o Share of courses per program (C) = 𝑥100
𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑡 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚
o Share of items per course = 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑋 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑠

NOTE: In Table 4, for some of the courses approximation is used to make the total number of items 100.

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9. Conclusion

Exit exams can play a critical role to produce knowledgeable, skilled, and emotionally mature
graduates. As a quality check for efficiency, it helps to prepare graduates who are competent.
It also contributes to the effectiveness and quality of academic programs. It can set up a
framework for collaboration across academic programs at other universities to work together
to raise the caliber of the programs.

In order to achieve the graduation profile, competency, and learning outcome of 2015 EC
graduating students, core courses were selected and exit exam competencies were identified.
Then, the test blueprint of computer science and engineering has been developed for uniform
distribution of exam questions based on identified competency focus areas and core courses of
the program.

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