JULY 5, 2019

MARIA RIZZA FERNANDINE R. DE ASIS

TRAINING-WORKSHOP ON FORMULATING
A TABLE OF SPECIFICATIONS
OUTLINE
▸ What is TOS?
▸ What is its significance?
▸ What are the steps in creating a TOS?
WHAT IS A TABLE OF SPECIFICATIONS?
▸ A Table of Specifications 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. (Melchor, 2013)
▸ It also shows the level of assessment for the different
questions or skills to be given.
▸ It serves as a guide for the teacher to know what kind of
test questions or activities to prepare.
WHAT IS A TABLE OF SPECIFICATIONS?
▸ A Table of Specifications helps to ensure that
there is a match between what is taught and what is
tested. Classroom assessment should be driven by
classroom teaching which itself is driven by course
goals and objectives.
▸ Tables of Specifications provide the link between
teaching and testing. (University of Kansas, 2013)
WHY USE TOS?
▸ If an individual can perform the most difficult
aspects of the objective, the instructor can
"assume" the lower levels can be done.
▸ However, if testing the lower levels, the
instructor cannot "assume" the individual can
perform the higher levels.
HOW IS THE LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT DETERMINED?
BLOOM’S TAXONOMY OF COGNITIVE DOMAIN
BLOOM’S TAXONOMY OF COGNITIVE DOMAIN
BLOOM’S TAXONOMY OF COGNITIVE DOMAIN
SIGNIFICANCE OF T.O.S.
⦿Kubiszyn & Borich, (2003) emphasized the following
significance and components of TOS:
1.A Table of Specifications consists of a two-way chart or grid
relating instructional objectives to the instructional content.
The column of the chart lists the objectives or "levels of
skills" (Gredlcr, 1999) to be addressed;
The rows list the key concepts or content the test is to
measure.
SIGNIFICANCE OF T.O.S.
⦿According to Bloom, et al. (1971),
⦿ "We have found it useful to represent the relation of
content and behaviors in the form of a two dimensional
table with the objectives on one axis, the content on the
other”.
SIGNIFICANCE OF T.O.S.
▸ 2. A Table of Specifications identifies not only the
content areas covered in class, it identifies the
performance objectives at each level of the cognitive
domain of Bloom's Taxonomy.
▸ Teachers can be assured that they are measuring
students' learning across a wide range of content and
readings as well as cognitive processes requiring higher
order thinking.
SIGNIFICANCE OF T.O.S.
▸ 3. A Table of Specifications is developed
before the test is written. In fact it should be
constructed before the actual teaching
begins.
SIGNIFICANCE OF T.O.S.
▸ 4. The purpose of a Table of Specifications is
to identify the achievement domains being
measured and to ensure that a fair and
representative sample of questions appear on
the test.
HOW TO MAKE A TABLE
OF SPECIFICATIONS
1. Determine the purpose of the test
2. Consider the time available to prepare,
administer and score the test.
3. Consider the range of topics to be
addressed. Align your questions to the
competencies written in the Curriculum
Guide of the Department of Education.
4. Determine the kinds of questions to ask,
classify them according to Bloom’s
Taxonomy
5. Make sure there is appropriate distribution
of questions to address different levels of
knowledge.