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
1.2Leadership and Communications2.22%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.11%
1.6Business Literacy1.11%
1.9Financial Management2.22%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures 8.89%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.3Care and Management13.33%
Strand 3. Biotechnology
3.1Handling, Preparation, Storage, and Disposal3.33%
3.4Molecular-Genetics Technology5.56%
3.6Culturing3.33%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Equipment Maintenance1.11%
4.3Engines5.56%
Strand 5. Structural Engineering
5.3Design and Estimate3.33%
5.6Construction5.56%
5.10Joining and Cutting Metals with Heat3.33%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils11.11%
6.2Water Quality3.33%
6.11Habitat Management and Restoration3.33%
Strand 7. Food Science
7.2Quality Assurance3.33%
7.5Food Product Development3.33%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition4.44%
8.4Growth and Management5.56%
Strand 9. Energy
9.1Energy Sources5.56%

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 Skills12.64%
1.2Leadership and Communications13.79%
1.3Business Ethics and Law5.75%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology4.60%
1.5Global Environment1.15%
1.6Business Literacy14.94%
1.7Entrepreneurship/ Entrepreneurs8.05%
1.8Operations Management10.34%
1.9Financial Management17.24%
1.10Sales and Marketing6.90%
Strand 7. Food Science
7.7Biosecurity4.60%

Plant and Horticultural Science

ODE Subject Code: 010155
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills8.70%
1.2Leadership and Communications7.61%
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.26%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.26%
1.6Business Literacy2.17%
1.9Financial Management2.17%
1.10Sales and Marketing3.26%
Strand 5. Structural Engineering
5.8Water Distribution Systems5.43%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils9.78%
6.2Water Quality5.43%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition10.87%
8.2Plant Reproduction7.61%
8.3Pest Management10.87%
8.4Growth and Management8.70%
8.5Harvesting9.78%
8.6Handling and Storage1.09%

Greenhouse and Nursery Management

ODE Subject Code: 010610
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills11.96%
1.2Leadership and Communications1.09%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.17%
1.6Business Literacy3.26%
1.8Operations Management3.26%
1.9Financial Management2.17%
1.10Sales and Marketing5.43%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures 3.26%
Strand 3. Biotechnology
3.8Research and Experiments 2.17%
Strand 5. Structural Engineering
5.1Electrical Theory3.26%
5.2Structural Electrical Circuits2.17%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils4.35%
6.2Water Quality3.26%
6.7Solid Waste and Renewable Resource Management3.26%
Strand 7. Food Science
7.7Biosecurity3.26%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition13.04%
8.2Plant Reproduction5.43%
8.3Pest Management6.52%
8.4Growth and Management15.22%
8.5Harvesting2.17%
8.6Handling and Storage3.26%

Landscape Systems Management

ODE Subject Code: 010615
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills5.32%
1.2Leadership and Communications3.19%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.06%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.19%
1.6Business Literacy3.19%
1.9Financial Management1.06%
1.10Sales and Marketing2.13%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures 7.45%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Equipment Maintenance12.77%
4.2Equipment Operations6.38%
4.3Engines7.45%
4.4Lubrication and Cooling Systems3.19%
4.5Fuel, Air Induction and Exhaust System1.06%
4.7Transmission of Power2.13%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils2.13%
6.8Contaminants and Pollution Control3.19%
6.10Ecosystems2.13%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition5.32%
8.2Plant Reproduction2.13%
8.3Pest Management6.38%
8.4Growth and Management9.57%
8.5Harvesting3.19%
8.6Handling and Storage6.38%

Floral Design and Marketing

ODE Subject Code: 010625
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills8.70%
1.2Leadership and Communications6.52%
1.3Business Ethics and Law4.35%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.26%
1.6Business Literacy4.35%
1.8Operations Management7.61%
1.10Sales and Marketing10.87%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures 3.26%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.2Equipment Operations3.26%
Strand 5. Structural Engineering
5.3Design and Estimate19.57%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.9Hazardous Materials and Waste Management 3.26%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.3Pest Management4.35%
8.4Growth and Management5.43%
8.5Harvesting6.52%
8.6Handling and Storage8.70%

Landscape Design

ODE Subject Code: 010630
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.16%
1.2Leadership and Communications4.21%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.11%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.11%
1.6Business Literacy3.16%
1.8Operations Management3.16%
1.9Financial Management3.16%
1.10Sales and Marketing3.16%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures 7.37%
Strand 5. Structural Engineering
5.1Electrical Theory5.26%
5.3Design and Estimate17.89%
5.4Surveying and Mapping8.42%
5.7Brick, Block and Concrete3.16%
5.8Water Distribution Systems3.16%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils3.16%
6.2Water Quality4.21%
6.10Ecosystems3.16%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition7.37%
8.3Pest Management3.16%
8.4Growth and Management9.47%

Turf Science and Management

ODE Subject Code: 010635
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills1.06%
1.2Leadership and Communications2.13%
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.19%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.19%
1.9Financial Management1.06%
1.10Sales and Marketing2.13%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures 6.38%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Equipment Maintenance11.70%
4.2Equipment Operations7.45%
Strand 5. Structural Engineering
5.3Design and Estimate5.32%
5.8Water Distribution Systems9.57%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils10.64%
6.2Water Quality4.26%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition10.64%
8.2Plant Reproduction1.06%
8.3Pest Management9.57%
8.4Growth and Management10.64%

Landscape Hardscapes

ODE Subject Code: 010640
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.2Leadership and Communications1.06%
1.10Sales and Marketing4.26%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures 5.32%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Equipment Maintenance7.45%
4.2Equipment Operations5.32%
Strand 5. Structural Engineering
5.1Electrical Theory3.19%
5.2Structural Electrical Circuits4.26%
5.3Design and Estimate19.15%
5.4Surveying and Mapping6.38%
5.6Construction3.19%
5.7Brick, Block and Concrete4.26%
5.8Water Distribution Systems3.19%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils6.38%
6.2Water Quality5.32%
6.10Ecosystems7.45%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition3.19%
8.3Pest Management5.32%
8.4Growth and Management5.32%

Park and Recreational Management

ODE Subject Code: 010735
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills6.82%
1.2Leadership and Communications7.95%
1.3Business Ethics and Law5.68%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology5.68%
1.6Business Literacy4.55%
1.8Operations Management3.41%
1.10Sales and Marketing4.55%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures 6.82%
Strand 2. Animal Science
2.3Care and Management2.27%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Equipment Maintenance7.95%
4.2Equipment Operations5.68%
Strand 5. Structural Engineering
5.3Design and Estimate6.82%
5.4Surveying and Mapping5.68%
5.6Construction1.14%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils4.55%
6.8Contaminants and Pollution Control3.41%
6.9Hazardous Materials and Waste Management 2.27%
6.10Ecosystems10.23%
6.11Habitat Management and Restoration2.27%
Strand 7. Food Science
7.7Biosecurity1.14%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.4Growth and Management1.14%

Urban Forestry

ODE Subject Code: 010740
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills6.06%
1.2Leadership and Communications5.05%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.02%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.01%
1.6Business Literacy2.02%
1.8Operations Management1.01%
1.9Financial Management1.01%
1.10Sales and Marketing2.02%
1.12Site and Personal Safety Procedures 8.08%
Strand 4. Power Systems
4.1Tool, Stationary and Mobile Equipment Maintenance14.14%
4.2Equipment Operations5.05%
Strand 5. Structural Engineering
5.3Design and Estimate2.02%
Strand 6. Environmental Science
6.1Soils8.08%
6.10Ecosystems3.03%
Strand 8. Plant Science
8.1Plant Nutrition7.07%
8.3Pest Management14.14%
8.4Growth and Management18.18%

Unmanned Aircraft Systems

ODE Subject Code: 177024
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills2.08%
1.2Leadership and Communications1.04%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.04%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.04%
1.6Business Literacy1.04%
1.7Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurs1.04%
1.8Operations Management1.04%
1.10Sales and Marketing1.04%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools and Maintenance
2.1Facility Safety5.21%
2.2Personal Safety2.08%
Strand 7. Aviation and Aeronautics
7.1Aviation: Describe the airspace system and aviation industry.3.13%
7.4Aerodynamics9.38%
7.5Airport Environments5.21%
7.6Meteorology6.25%
7.7Air Traffic Control and Communication3.13%
7.8Human Factors5.21%
7.9Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems8.33%
7.10Geographic Information Systems (GIS)7.29%
7.11Preflight Preparation14.58%
7.12Takeoff and Landing4.17%
7.13Flight Environment10.42%
7.14Emergency Operations6.25%

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