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

Construction Technology- Core and Sustainable Construction

ODE Subject Code: 178000
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills7.45%
1.2Leadership and Communication6.38%
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.19%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.13%
1.5Global Environment3.19%
1.6Business Literacy3.19%
1.7Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurs3.19%
1.8Operations Management3.19%
1.9Financial Management3.19%
1.10Sales and Marketing3.19%
1.11Principles of Business Economics1.06%
1.12Cyber Hygiene3.19%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety13.83%
2.2Personal Safety12.77%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math8.51%
6.2Construction Drawings6.38%
6.4Construction Scheduling6.38%
6.5Field Organization6.38%
6.6Building Maintenance3.19%

Carpentry and Masonry Technical Skills

ODE Subject Code: 178001
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.96%
1.2Leadership and Communication2.97%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.98%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.98%
1.5Global Environment2.97%
1.12Cyber Hygiene1.98%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety7.92%
2.2Personal Safety8.91%
Strand 3. Structural Construction
3.1Brick, Block and Concrete7.92%
3.2Site Management5.94%
3.5Floor Framing8.91%
3.6Wall Framing7.92%
3.7Roof Framing and Finishing9.90%
3.8Exterior Finish Work4.95%
3.9Stairs6.93%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math6.93%
6.2Construction Drawings6.93%
Strand 7. Planning and Design
7.1Proposals0.99%

Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems

ODE Subject Code: 178002
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills4.21%
1.2Leadership and Communication3.16%
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.16%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.16%
1.5Global Environment3.16%
1.12Cyber Hygiene2.11%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety6.32%
2.2Personal Safety8.42%
2.3Equipment Operation2.11%
2.4Equipment and Machinery Preventative Maintenance4.21%
Strand 4. Electrical
4.1Electrical Theory6.32%
4.2Circuits6.32%
4.4Electrical Wiring7.37%
Strand 5. Environmental Systems and Plumbing
5.1Refrigeration4.21%
5.2Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Systems Installation2.11%
5.3Service Maintenance3.16%
5.6Sheet Metal4.21%
5.7Drainage5.26%
5.8Water Systems5.26%
5.9Fuel Piping Systems5.26%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math5.26%
6.2Construction Drawings5.26%

Construction Electrical Systems

ODE Subject Code: 178007
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.16%
1.2Leadership and Communication4.21%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.05%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.16%
1.5Global Environment3.16%
1.12Cyber Hygiene2.11%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety9.47%
2.2Personal Safety9.47%
2.4Equipment and Machinery Preventative Maintenance5.26%
Strand 4. Electrical
4.1Electrical Theory10.53%
4.2Circuits9.47%
4.3Codes and Regulations9.47%
4.4Electrical Wiring10.53%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math9.47%
6.2Construction Drawings9.47%

Residential Electrical Systems

ODE Subject Code: 178008
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.23%
1.2Leadership and Communication1.08%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.08%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.08%
1.5Global Environment1.08%
1.12Cyber Hygiene1.08%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety6.45%
2.2Personal Safety6.45%
2.4Equipment and Machinery Preventative Maintenance5.38%
Strand 4. Electrical
4.1Electrical Theory11.83%
4.2Circuits10.75%
4.3Codes and Regulations12.90%
4.4Electrical Wiring18.28%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math10.75%
6.2Construction Drawings8.60%

Commercial and Industrial Construction Electrical Systems

ODE Subject Code: 178009
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills2.17%
1.2Leadership and Communication1.09%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.09%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.09%
1.5Global Environment1.09%
1.12Cyber Hygiene1.09%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety6.52%
2.2Personal Safety6.52%
2.4Equipment and Machinery Preventative Maintenance3.26%
Strand 4. Electrical
4.2Circuits10.87%
4.3Codes and Regulations10.87%
4.4Electrical Wiring16.30%
4.5Motors and Power10.87%
4.6Alternative Power and Renewable Energy Systems8.70%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math9.78%
6.2Construction Drawings8.70%

Plumbing and Pipefitting Systems

ODE Subject Code: 178010
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills5.62%
1.2Leadership and Communication1.12%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.12%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.37%
1.5Global Environment4.49%
1.12Cyber Hygiene2.25%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety10.11%
2.2Personal Safety8.99%
2.4Equipment and Machinery Preventative Maintenance5.62%
Strand 5. Environmental Systems and Plumbing
5.7Drainage17.98%
5.8Water Systems16.85%
5.9Fuel Piping Systems5.62%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math7.87%
6.2Construction Drawings8.99%

Residential and Commercial Plumbing Systems

ODE Subject Code: 178011
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills11.58%
1.2Leadership and Communication3.16%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.11%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.05%
1.5Global Environment1.05%
1.12Cyber Hygiene6.32%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety11.58%
2.2Personal Safety14.74%
Strand 5. Environmental Systems and Plumbing
5.7Drainage11.58%
5.8Water Systems9.47%
5.9Fuel Piping Systems11.58%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math7.37%
6.2Construction Drawings8.42%

Heating and Cooling Systems

ODE Subject Code: 178012
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills2.11%
1.2Leadership and Communication4.21%
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.16%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.11%
1.5Global Environment2.11%
1.12Cyber Hygiene2.11%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety8.42%
2.2Personal Safety9.47%
2.4Equipment and Machinery Preventative Maintenance9.47%
Strand 5. Environmental Systems and Plumbing
5.2Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Systems Installation17.89%
5.3Service Maintenance13.68%
5.5Boiler Systems4.21%
5.9Fuel Piping Systems6.32%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math8.42%
6.2Construction Drawings6.32%

HVAC Refrigeration

ODE Subject Code: 178013
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.23%
1.2Leadership and Communication1.08%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.08%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.08%
1.5Global Environment1.08%
1.12Cyber Hygiene2.15%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety8.60%
2.2Personal Safety7.53%
2.4Equipment and Machinery Preventative Maintenance10.75%
Strand 5. Environmental Systems and Plumbing
5.1Refrigeration13.98%
5.2Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Systems Installation11.83%
5.3Service Maintenance13.98%
5.9Fuel Piping Systems9.68%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math8.60%
6.2Construction Drawings5.38%

Sheet Metal

ODE Subject Code: 178014
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills4.26%
1.2Leadership and Communication1.06%
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.19%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.13%
1.5Global Environment2.13%
1.12Cyber Hygiene2.13%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety15.96%
2.2Personal Safety14.89%
Strand 5. Environmental Systems and Plumbing
5.6Sheet Metal25.53%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math15.96%
6.2Construction Drawings12.77%

Telecommunications/Low Voltage Systems - RETAKES ONLY

ODE Subject Code: 178015
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs

Alternative Power Generation Systems

ODE Subject Code: 178016
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.53%
1.2Leadership and Communication5.88%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.35%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.35%
1.12Cyber Hygiene2.35%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety7.06%
2.2Personal Safety10.59%
Strand 3. Structural Construction
3.6Wall Framing1.18%
Strand 4. Electrical
4.3Codes and Regulations9.41%
4.4Electrical Wiring12.94%
4.6Alternative Power and Renewable Energy Systems11.76%
Strand 5. Environmental Systems and Plumbing
5.4Energy Assessment9.41%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math9.41%
6.2Construction Drawings11.76%

Powerline/Hi-Voltage Power Transmission

ODE Subject Code: 178017
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills1.54%
1.2Leadership and Communication1.54%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.54%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.54%
1.5Global Environment3.08%
1.12Cyber Hygiene3.08%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety10.77%
2.2Personal Safety13.85%
2.3Equipment Operation6.15%
2.4Equipment and Machinery Preventative Maintenance6.15%
Strand 4. Electrical
4.1Electrical Theory10.77%
4.2Circuits9.23%
4.3Codes and Regulations4.62%
4.4Electrical Wiring4.62%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math10.77%
6.2Construction Drawings10.77%

Construction Safety and Crew Leadership

ODE Subject Code: 178018
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills8.33%
1.2Leadership and Communication10.42%
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.13%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.13%
1.5Global Environment3.13%
1.11Principles of Business Economics2.08%
1.12Cyber Hygiene1.04%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety17.71%
2.2Personal Safety18.75%
2.3Equipment Operation6.25%
2.4Equipment and Machinery Preventative Maintenance6.25%
Strand 3. Structural Construction
3.3Excavation6.25%
3.11Remodeling2.08%
Strand 4. Electrical
4.3Codes and Regulations6.25%
Strand 5. Environmental Systems and Plumbing
5.8Water Systems2.08%
5.9Fuel Piping Systems1.04%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.6Building Maintenance2.08%

Plan Reading

ODE Subject Code: 178019
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills7.22%
1.2Leadership and Communication5.15%
1.3Business Ethics and Law6.19%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology5.15%
1.5Global Environment2.06%
1.12Cyber Hygiene2.06%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.2Personal Safety12.37%
2.3Equipment Operation3.09%
Strand 3. Structural Construction
3.2Site Management8.25%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math12.37%
6.2Construction Drawings13.40%
6.3Construction Estimating12.37%
Strand 7. Planning and Design
7.1Proposals6.19%
7.3Drafting4.12%

Construction Management

ODE Subject Code: 178022
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills7.37%
1.2Leadership and Communication12.63%
1.3Business Ethics and Law5.26%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.16%
1.5Global Environment3.16%
1.6Business Literacy2.11%
1.8Operations Management2.11%
1.10Sales and Marketing1.05%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety10.53%
2.2Personal Safety10.53%
Strand 3. Structural Construction
3.2Site Management8.42%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math6.32%
6.2Construction Drawings6.32%
6.3Construction Estimating3.16%
6.4Construction Scheduling8.42%
6.5Field Organization8.42%
Strand 7. Planning and Design
7.1Proposals1.05%

Facility and Building Maintenance

ODE Subject Code: 178024
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills5.26%
1.2Leadership and Communication2.11%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.11%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.11%
1.5Global Environment2.11%
1.8Operations Management4.21%
1.12Cyber Hygiene1.05%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety9.47%
2.2Personal Safety9.47%
2.3Equipment Operation4.21%
2.4Equipment and Machinery Preventative Maintenance9.47%
Strand 3. Structural Construction
3.8Exterior Finish Work4.21%
3.10Interior Finish Work7.37%
Strand 5. Environmental Systems and Plumbing
5.3Service Maintenance3.16%
5.5Boiler Systems2.11%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math9.47%
6.2Construction Drawings5.26%
6.6Building Maintenance16.84%

Principles of Woods Construction

ODE Subject Code: 178030
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills1.10%
1.2Leadership and Communication2.20%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.20%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.20%
1.5Global Environment2.20%
1.12Cyber Hygiene2.20%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety9.89%
2.2Personal Safety9.89%
Strand 3. Structural Construction
3.5Floor Framing10.99%
3.6Wall Framing12.09%
3.7Roof Framing and Finishing10.99%
3.8Exterior Finish Work6.59%
3.10Interior Finish Work10.99%
3.11Remodeling8.79%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math7.69%

Fundamentals of Architecture

ODE Subject Code: 178040
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 Technology3.16%
1.5Global Environment2.11%
1.12Cyber Hygiene3.16%
Strand 2. Safety, Tools, and Equipment
2.1Site Safety6.32%
2.2Personal Safety7.37%
Strand 3. Structural Construction
3.2Site Management5.26%
3.3Excavation5.26%
3.5Floor Framing7.37%
3.6Wall Framing5.26%
3.7Roof Framing and Finishing7.37%
3.8Exterior Finish Work6.32%
3.9Stairs6.32%
3.10Interior Finish Work6.32%
Strand 6. Construction Management and Jobsite Maintenance
6.1Construction Math6.32%
6.2Construction Drawings7.37%
Strand 7. Planning and Design
7.3Drafting5.26%

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