Sample Table of Specifications for Multiple Choice Exams

TABLE OF SPECIFICATION- Sicat, Rachelle



TABLE OF SPECIFICATION

Essentially, a table of specification is a table chart that breaks down the topics that will be on a test and the amount of test questions or percentage of weight each section will have on the final test grade. This kind of table chart is usually split into two charts, and each sub topic is numbered under the main topics that are being covered for the test. This type of table is mainly used by 

teachers to help break down their testing outline on a specific subject. Some teachers use this particular table as their teaching guideline by breaking the table into subjects, the teachers main points, how much time should be spent on the point, and what assignment or project can be done to help the student learn the subject.

Sample Table of Specifications for Multiple Choice Exams

Sample Table of Specifications for Multiple Choice Exams in Medical School

To prepare a multiple choice exam or test you have to know the percentages of the topics depending on their importance to the subject and the hours spent in their discussion.

Let’s say you are preparing an exam for the prelim period, for your subject in Human Physiology in medical school; here are steps you can adapt.

1.       Assign the percentage per topic based on the course requirement:

Intro to human physiology – 10%

The human body- 15%

The muscular system -25%

The skeletal system -25%

The cardiovascular system -25%

TOTAL = 100%

N.B. You can adjust the percentages according to your syllabus or academic requirements.

2.       Decide on how many items the test should be. Let’s say you have decided that the items for your Prelim exam are 150. The time allotted should at least be 2 hours for this exam, if 1 minute per question and 3 minutes per problem is assigned.

3.       Present your data in a table of specifications for clarity.

TOPIC	NO. OF ITEMS	PERCENTAGE
Intro to Physiology		10
The Human Body		15
The Muscular System		25
The Skeletal System		25
The Cardiovascular system		25
TOTAL		100%

4.       Solve for the number of items of each topic by multiplying the percentage-decimal equivalent with the total number of items.

Intro to Physiology = 0.10 (10%) X 150 = 15 items

The Human Body = 0.15 (15%) X 150 = 22.50 items

The Muscular System = 0.25 (25%) X 150 = 37.50 items

The Skeletal System = 0.25 (25%) X 150 =37.50 items

The Cardiovascular System = 0.25 (25%) X 150 = 37.50 items

For a total of 150 items. Since there are no 0.5 questions, you may decide to which topic you would assign the 1 item excess.

Let’s say you have the final items assigned:

Intro to Physiology = 0.10 X 150 = 15 items

The Human Body = 0.15 X 150 = 23 items

The Muscular System = 0.25 X 150 = 37 items

The Skeletal System = 0.25 X 150 =37 items

The Cardiovascular System = 0.25 X 150 = 38 items

You come up with this table

TOPIC	NO. OF ITEMS	PERCENTAGE
Intro to Physiology	15	10
The Human Body	23	15
The Muscular System	37	25
The Skeletal System	37	25
The Cardiovascular system	38	25
TOTAL	150	100%

5.       This is the simplest form of preparing for a table of specifications. You may want to be more specific and prepare a more detailed table assigning easy, average and difficult questions. The average questions should at least be 80% of your exams, while the easy at least 20% and the difficult, at least 15 %. This is recommended but the final decision still relies on the subject per se, and the learning ability of your students.

TOPIC	Easy qsns.	Average qsns.	Difficult qsns.	NO. OF ITEMS	PERCENTAGE
Intro to Physiology	3	10	2	15	10
The Human Body	4	16	3	23	15
The Muscular System	5	28	4	37	25
The Skeletal System	5	28	4	37	25
The Cardiovascular system	5	28	4	38	25
TOTAL	22	111	17	150	100%

6.       You should be able to determine which questions are easy, average and difficult based on an item analysis that you have done in previous exams. This is an analysis of what questions were answered easily and correctly and which ones were difficult for the students. There are available software for item analysis that maybe available from your school or you could prepare one yourself through the semesters that you teach the subject.

Another 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.