Table of Specifications: Sample Topics for Exams

 

Sample Table of Specifications

Clinical Chemistry 1 subject – Prelim Exams

Topic	Identification	Multiple Choice	Problem Solving	Number of Items	Percentage
Intro to Clinical Chemistry	2	10	0	12	10
Laboratory Mathematics	2	14	20	36	30
Carbohydrates	3	33	0	36	30
Lipids	3	33	0	36	30
Total No. of Items	10	90	20	120	100%

DECIDE THE NUMBER OF ITEMS FOR YOUR EXAM, BASED ON THE HOURS AVAILABLE.

1.       You assign the percentage according to the importance of the topic to your subject, or you can also refer to the required weight of the topic by your school or accrediting institution.

2.      

           Decide on the total number of items for the exam depending on the number of hours assigned.

3.     

            At least 1 minute is given for easy questions and 3-5 minutes for difficult questions. In case analyses, you may want to increase the time.

4.    

             Based on your total items, you now get the number of items for each topic simply by multiplying the total score with the percentage. Below is the computation for this Table of Specifications.

How to solve the number of items for your Table of Specifications.

Introduction to clinical chemistry = 120 X 0.10 (10%) = 12 items

Laboratory Mathematics = 120 X 0.30 = 36 items

Carbohydrates = 120 X 0.30 = 36 items

Lipids = 120 X 0.30 =36 items

Total number of items = 120

Assign now the specific type of test for the items. As the instructor, you would know what type of test could effectively test the knowledge of your students with the different topics. Your Table of Specifications should reflect which topics are vital to your course.

1.      

      In this example, the Introduction to Clinical Chemistry would not use problem solving but only multiple choice and identification. You can compose 10 items for multiple choice and 2 items for identification.

2.      

            Do the same with the rest of the topics.

3.    

           Make sure your table totals correctly in the vertical and horizontal columns and rows.

4.       The percentage value is not always the same as the number of items. They are only the same when you have a 100-item exam.

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