What is a Table of Specifications (TOS)

A Table of Specification is a two way chart which describes the topics to be

covered by a test and the number of items or points which will be associated
with each topic.

It is a table that helps to ensure that the teacher does not overlook details
considered essential good test.
 What is a Table of Specifications (TOS)

This table also ensures that learning has taken place across the range of:
a. Content covered in the class.
b. The cognitive process considered by teacher as important.

BLUEPRINT OF TEST
 Why Table of Specifications (TOS)

A table of specifications allows the teacher to construct a test which focuses on

the key areas and weights those different areas based on their importance.

A table of Specifications provides the teacher with evidence that a test has
content validity, that is covers what should be covered.
 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):
1. Determine the topics and objectives to be included in the test.
2. Determine the number of hours/days allotted for each topic.
3. Determine the total number of test items.
4. Determine the number of items per topic or content area.
5. Determine the percentage per item.
 COMMON OBSERVATION OF STUDENTS
ON TEST QUESTIONS

 Hindi kasama sa lessons.

 Masyadong mahaba ang question at mga pagppilian.
 Hindi maayos ang layout ng test, putol-putol ang mga sentence.
 Nakakalito ang mga tanong. Minsan wala sa pagpipilian and sagot.
 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):
1. Determine the topics and objectives to be included in the test.

Specific
Measurable
Learning Objectives should be SMART:
Attainable
Result-oriented
Time-bounded
 COMMON OBSERVATION OF STUDENTS
ON TEST QUESTIONS
 Hindi kasama sa lessons.
Masyadong mahaba ang question at mga pagppilian.
 Hindi maayos and layout ng test, putol-putol and mga sentence.
 Nakakalito ang mga tanong. Minsan wala sa pagpipilian and sagot.
 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):
2. Determine the number of hours/days allotted for each topic.

Check your course outline/syllabus.

 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):
3. Determine the total number of test items.

This step is either the prerogative of the teacher.

The number of items to include on any given test is a professional

decision made by the teacher based on the number of objectives in
the unit, the class time allocated for testing, and the importance of
the assessment.
3. Determine the total number of test items.
Keep in mind that the certain types of questions require a
Certain length for students to complete an item
True-False questions
15-30 seconds per question
More complex choice (recall questions that are brief) 30-60 seconds
More complex multiple choice questions 60-90 seconds
Multiple choice problems with calculations 2-5 minutes
Short answer (one word) 30-60 secons
Short answer (longer than one word) 1-4 minutes
Matching (5 premises, 6 responses) 2-4 minutes
Short essays 15-20 minutes
Data analyses/graphing 15-25 minutes
Drawing models/labeling 20-30 minutes
Extended essays 35-50 minutes
According to Linn and Gronlund, 2000
 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):
4. Determine the number of items per topic or content area.

Formula:

Number of items for each objective =  𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 ×𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔
 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):
5. Determine the percentage of items.

Formula:

 𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆

Percentage of items = ×𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔
The table of specifications can either be in a One-Way Grid or Two-Way Grid.

A. One-Way Grid

Number of Percentage of
Objective Number of Items Item Placement
Days/Hours Items

         

         

         

         

         

         

Total        
The table of specifications can either be in a One-Way Grid or Two-Way Grid.

B. Two-Way Grid

Understanding
Remembering

Evaluating
Analyzing
Applying

Creating
Total
Objectives Number
of Items

               
               
               
               
               
               
Total Number of Items              
Percentage of Items              
 LOWER-ORDER-THINKING HIGHER-ORDER-THINKING
SKILLS SKILLS

LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY

Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating

EASY
MODERATE
DIFFICULT
Example:

The teacher would like to give a 30 item test

which was taught for 5 days.
 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):
1. Determine the objectives to be included in the test.
Add Fraction.
Subtract Fraction.
Multiply Fraction.
OBJECTIVES Dividing Fraction.
Add and Subtract Decimals.
Multiply Decimals.
Divide Decimals.
 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):
2. Determine the number of hours/days allotted for each topic.
Number of
OBJECTIVES Hours/Days
Spent
Add Fraction. 1
Subtract Fraction. 1
The teacher would like to Multiply Fraction. 1/2
Dividing Fraction. 1/2
give a 30 item test which Add and Subtract Decimals. 1/2
was taught for 5 days. Multiply Decimals.
Divide Decimals.
1/2
1
Total 5
 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):

3. Determine the total number of test items.

The teacher would like to give a 30 item

test which was taught for 5 days.
 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):
4. Determine the number of items per topic or content area.
The teacher spent 1 day in teaching the first
objectives.

Formula:
Number of items for each objective =  𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 ×𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔
𝟏 
= ×𝟑𝟎
𝟓
= 𝟔 
 The teacher would like to give a 30 item test
which was taught for 5 days.

The teacher spent 1 day in teaching the first objectives.

6 is the number of item test that will measure the skill of the
students in first objective.
 Steps in Preparing of Table of Specifications
(TOS):
5. Determine the percentage of items.
Formula:

 𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆

Percentage of items = ×𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔
 𝟔
= 𝟑𝟎 ×𝟏𝟎𝟎
= 𝟐𝟎
 
 Number of Number of Percentage Item
OBJECTIVES
Hours/Days Spent Items of Items Placement

Add Fraction. 1 6 20 1,2, 11, 12, 13, 14

Subtract Fraction. 1 6 20 3, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Multiply Fraction. 1/2 3 10 4, 5, 6

Dividing Fraction. 1/2 3 10 7, 15, 16

Add and Subtract Decimals. 1/2 3 10 8, 9, 10

Multiply Decimals. 1/2 3 10 17, 18, 19

Divide Decimals. 6 20 20, 26, 27, 28, 29,

1 30
Total 5 30 100 30
 Categories of Skills  
Number of
Number of Percentage
OBJECTIVES Hours/Days
Items of Items
Spent Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating Total

11, 12, 13,

Add Fraction. 1 6 20 1 2       6
14
21, 22, 23, 24,
Subtract Fraction. 1 6 20 3     25     6

Multiply Fraction. 1/2 3 10 4, 5 6         3

Dividing Fraction. 1/2 3 10 7   15, 16       3

Add and Subtract 1/2 3 10   8, 9, 10         3

Decimals.

Multiply Decimals. 1/2 3 10           3

17, 18, 19
Divide Decimals. 6 20 26, 27, 28, 29,
1     20 30     6
Total 5 30 100 5 5 10 10     30