About the Tests

About Test Blueprints

Test blueprints are created to provide guidance to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) during the item writing phase of test development. In addition, we believe that they can assist those instructors who did not participate in item writing (and administrators) to understand the broad content of the item bank. Items are formally allocated across a course outline in a three-step process*:

  1. CETE psychometricians send a survey starting in the summer prior to item writing and until the item bank is written. The survey asks teachers to identify competencies they deem to be most important within the course as well as the difficulty level of writing items to each competency. Survey data is used to create a suggested blueprint for review by the Ohio Department of Education program specialists and SMEs.
  2. SMEs review the blueprint as a large group before item writing for a specific EOC test. There and in small groups, SMEs review the course outline and have the ability to make changes to the blueprint with a documented rationale based on their experience and expertise.
  3. Any revisions during small group work must be approved by the larger panel of SMEs attending an item writing workshop, as well as the program specialist from the Ohio Department of Education, which is the last step and produces the final blueprint which is summarized in this document.

Test blueprints can provide high-level guidance to instructors on preparing students for testing. It is important to keep in mind that the blueprint is a tool that is used when developing the test item bank during initial item writing and test creation. As with all tests, the End-of-Course test forms are a sample of the item bank.

Interpreting the Blueprints

Test blueprints display the total number of test items SMEs planned to write to a particular outcome (as designated in the course outline created by the Ohio Department of Education Office of Career-Technical Education or by a vendor). The blueprint describes structure of the item bank which is the total pool of test items created. Final test forms of 40-items are created from the item bank.

* This newer process for producing test blueprints was implemented October 1, 2015. Item banks created prior to this date were completed under a different blueprint process and therefore we are looking backward to provide the structure of the item bank. As revisions are completed for those career fields, for example Information Technology (2017-18), the blueprint process used will be the newer model. Learn more at cete.osu.edu/expertise/assessment

Test Blueprints

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

ODE Subject Code: 010105
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.26%
1.2Leadership and Communication5.43%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.26%
1.6Business Literacy3.26%
1.7Entrepreneurship/ Entrepreneurs3.26%
1.8Operations Management3.26%
1.9Financial Management3.26%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures6.52%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.3Care and Management6.52%
Strand 3. Biotechnology
3.1Research and Experiments5.43%
3.3Specimen, equipment and chemical handling3.26%
3.6Molecular-Genetics Technology2.17%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Maintenance4.35%
4.3Engines3.26%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.3Design and Estimate1.09%
5.6Construction1.09%
5.9Physics and Metallurgy of Welding1.09%
5.10Joining and cutting ferrous and non-ferrous materials with heat1.09%
5.12Precision Agriculture4.35%
5.15Animal Behavior2.17%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils4.35%
6.2Water Quality3.26%
6.11Habitat Management and Restoration4.35%
Strand 7. Food Science
7.2Quality Assurance5.43%
7.5Food Product Development3.26%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition4.35%
8.4Growth and Management5.43%
Strand 9. Energy
9.1Energy Sources2.17%

Business Management for Agricultural and Environmental Systems

ODE Subject Code: 010115
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills6.67%
1.2Leadership and Communication10.00%
1.3Business Ethics and Law6.67%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology6.67%
1.5Global Environment2.22%
1.6Business Literacy13.33%
1.7Entrepreneurship/ Entrepreneurs8.89%
1.8Operations Management15.56%
1.9Financial Management10.00%
1.10Sales and Marketing8.89%
1.11Principles of Business Economics3.33%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.16Biosecurity7.78%

Plant and Horticultural Science

ODE Subject Code: 010155
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.41%
1.2Leadership and Communication2.27%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.27%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.27%
1.6Business Literacy2.27%
1.9Financial Management3.41%
1.10Sales and Marketing3.41%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.8Water Distribution Systems5.68%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils7.95%
6.2Water Quality9.09%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition14.77%
8.2Plant Reproduction10.23%
8.3Pest Management7.95%
8.4Growth and Management13.64%
8.5Harvesting6.82%
8.6Handling and Storage4.55%

Environmental Science for Agriculture and Natural Resources

ODE Subject Code: 010720
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills2.20%
1.2Leadership and Communication3.30%
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.30%
1.11Principles of Business Economics3.30%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures3.30%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.4Recognizing Diseases and Disorders3.30%
Strand 3. Biotechnology
3.1Research and Experiments9.89%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils8.79%
6.2Water Quality6.59%
6.3Air Quality5.49%
6.4Water Use and Management4.40%
6.5Potable Water Treatment3.30%
6.6Wastewater Operations3.30%
6.7Solid Waste and Renewable Resource Management6.59%
6.8Contaminants and Pollution Control6.59%
6.9Hazardous Materials and Waste Management3.30%
6.10Ecosystems7.69%
6.11Habitat Management and Restoration8.79%
Strand 9. Energy
9.1Energy Sources6.59%

Animal Science and Technology

ODE Subject Code: 010910
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills2.08%
1.2Leadership and Communication1.04%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.08%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.08%
1.6Business Literacy1.04%
1.10Sales and Marketing2.08%
1.11Principles of Business Economics3.13%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.1Nutrition10.42%
2.2Body Systems7.29%
2.3Care and Management10.42%
2.4Recognizing Diseases and Disorders5.21%
2.5Animal Health6.25%
2.6Population Management8.33%
Strand 3. Biotechnology
3.6Molecular-Genetics Technology3.13%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Maintenance3.13%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.15Animal Behavior13.54%
5.16Biosecurity4.17%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.7Solid Waste and Renewable Resource Management4.17%
Strand 7. Food Science
7.1The Science of Food1.04%
7.3Meat Science4.17%
7.4Food Production and Processing3.13%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition1.04%
Strand 9. Energy
9.1Energy Sources1.04%

Animal Health

ODE Subject Code: 010915
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills1.08%
1.2Leadership and Communication1.08%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.08%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.1Nutrition12.90%
2.2Body Systems3.23%
2.3Care and Management16.13%
2.4Recognizing Diseases and Disorders15.05%
2.5Animal Health18.28%
2.6Population Management8.60%
Strand 3. Biotechnology
3.1Research and Experiments3.23%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.15Animal Behavior12.90%
5.16Biosecurity6.45%

Livestock Selection, Nutrition, and Management

ODE Subject Code: 010920
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills0.93%
1.2Leadership and Communication0.93%
1.3Business Ethics and Law0.93%
1.5Global Environment0.93%
1.6Business Literacy0.93%
1.8Operations Management0.93%
1.9Financial Management0.93%
1.10Sales and Marketing0.93%
1.11Principles of Business Economics2.80%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures0.93%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.1Nutrition7.48%
2.2Body Systems7.48%
2.3Care and Management14.95%
2.4Recognizing Diseases and Disorders5.61%
2.5Animal Health4.67%
2.6Population Management8.41%
Strand 3. Biotechnology
3.6Molecular-Genetics Technology3.74%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Maintenance0.93%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.15Animal Behavior16.82%
5.16Biosecurity3.74%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.4Water Use and Management0.93%
6.7Solid Waste and Renewable Resource Management2.80%
Strand 7. Food Science
7.1The Science of Food0.93%
7.3Meat Science3.74%
7.4Food Production and Processing4.67%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition0.93%
Strand 9. Energy
9.1Energy Sources0.93%

Companion Animal Selection, Nutrition, and Management

ODE Subject Code: 010925
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills1.87%
1.2Leadership and Communication0.93%
1.3Business Ethics and Law4.67%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology0.93%
1.6Business Literacy0.93%
1.8Operations Management0.93%
1.10Sales and Marketing0.93%
1.11Principles of Business Economics2.80%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures6.54%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.1Nutrition7.48%
2.2Body Systems10.28%
2.3Care and Management13.08%
2.4Recognizing Diseases and Disorders7.48%
2.5Animal Health7.48%
2.6Population Management8.41%
Strand 3. Biotechnology
3.6Molecular-Genetics Technology2.80%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Maintenance0.93%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.15Animal Behavior14.02%
5.16Biosecurity3.74%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.7Solid Waste and Renewable Resource Management1.87%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition0.93%
Strand 9. Energy
9.1Energy Sources0.93%

Veterinary Science

ODE Subject Code: 010930
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.16%
1.2Leadership and Communication3.16%
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.16%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.11%
1.5Global Environment2.11%
1.6Business Literacy1.05%
1.8Operations Management2.11%
1.10Sales and Marketing2.11%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures5.26%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.1Nutrition8.42%
2.2Body Systems12.63%
2.3Care and Management7.37%
2.4Recognizing Diseases and Disorders8.42%
2.5Animal Health12.63%
2.6Population Management6.32%
Strand 3. Biotechnology
3.1Research and Experiments4.21%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Maintenance2.11%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.15Animal Behavior8.42%
5.16Biosecurity5.26%

Equine Selection, Nutrition, and Management

ODE Subject Code: 010935
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills1.05%
1.2Leadership and Communication2.11%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.11%
1.6Business Literacy1.05%
1.8Operations Management2.11%
1.10Sales and Marketing2.11%
1.11Principles of Business Economics2.11%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures3.16%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.1Nutrition8.42%
2.2Body Systems9.47%
2.3Care and Management13.68%
2.4Recognizing Diseases and Disorders7.37%
2.5Animal Health8.42%
2.6Population Management10.53%
Strand 3. Biotechnology
3.6Molecular-Genetics Technology3.16%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Maintenance3.16%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.15Animal Behavior8.42%
5.16Biosecurity3.16%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.7Solid Waste and Renewable Resource Management5.26%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition2.11%
Strand 9. Energy
9.1Energy Sources1.05%

Zoo and Aquarium

ODE Subject Code: 010940
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills5.38%
1.2Leadership and Communication5.38%
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.23%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.23%
1.5Global Environment3.23%
1.6Business Literacy1.08%
1.8Operations Management2.15%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures7.53%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.1Nutrition10.75%
2.3Care and Management12.90%
2.4Recognizing Diseases and Disorders9.68%
2.5Animal Health7.53%
2.6Population Management7.53%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.15Animal Behavior11.83%
5.16Biosecurity8.60%

Animal Anatomy and Physiology

ODE Subject Code: 010945
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.16%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures6.32%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.2Body Systems51.58%
2.3Care and Management5.26%
2.4Recognizing Diseases and Disorders10.53%
2.6Population Management10.53%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.15Animal Behavior12.63%

Meat Science and Technology

ODE Subject Code: 011020
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills1.16%
1.2Leadership and Communication1.16%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.33%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.33%
1.5Global Environment2.33%
1.6Business Literacy2.33%
1.8Operations Management2.33%
1.9Financial Management1.16%
1.10Sales and Marketing1.16%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures4.65%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.5Animal Health5.81%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Maintenance4.65%
4.2Equipment Operations3.49%
Strand 5. Elements of Production
5.16Biosecurity6.98%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.7Solid Waste and Renewable Resource Management4.65%
Strand 7. Food Science
7.1The Science of Food4.65%
7.2Quality Assurance9.30%
7.3Meat Science15.12%
7.4Food Production and Processing10.47%
7.5Food Product Development5.81%
7.6Food Safety and Sanitation8.14%

Medical Terminology

ODE Subject Code: 072150
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.2Leadership and Communications2.78%
Strand 2. Human Body System
2.1Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology38.89%
2.3Medical Terminology32.41%
Strand 3. Therapeutic Interventions
3.3Pharmaceutical Interventions7.41%
Strand 4. Assistive Care
4.1Scope of Practice6.48%
4.3Pathogenic Microorganisms, Infection Control and Infection6.48%
Strand 5. Bioscience Research and Development
5.3Microbiology Testing and Technology1.85%
5.8Biotechnology Research and Experiments0.93%
Strand 6. Health Information Management
6.1Health Information Literacy1.85%
6.2Confidentiality, Privacy and Security0.93%

Download Options