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

Business Foundations

ODE Subject Code: 141000
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills4.12%
1.2Leadership and Communications6.19%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology5.15%
1.9Financial Management4.12%
Strand 2. Business Foundations
2.1Business Activities10.31%
2.2Economic Principles9.28%
2.3Global Business5.15%
2.4Business Processes3.09%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.1Customer Relations5.15%
3.3Business Communications Management3.09%
3.4Marketing Communications3.09%
3.5Social Media Communications3.09%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.1Risk Management Fundamentals2.06%
4.4Legal Environment4.12%
4.8Legal Foundations1.03%
Strand 5. Marketing
5.1Marketing Fundamentals5.15%
5.10Product and Service Development4.12%
Strand 6. Business Management
6.1Management Fundamentals8.25%
Strand 7. Operations Management
7.7Supply Chain Management4.12%
Strand 9. Financial Analysis and Evaluation
9.1Financial Fundamentals2.06%
9.2Corporate Investments2.06%
9.5Financial Accounting2.06%
9.6Financial Reporting and Auditing3.09%

Management Principles

ODE Subject Code: 141025
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills5.32%
1.2Leadership and Communications7.45%
Strand 2. Business Foundations
2.1Business Activities7.45%
2.4Business Processes5.32%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.2Relationship Management7.45%
3.3Business Communications Management5.32%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.1Risk Management Fundamentals2.13%
4.3Compliance2.13%
4.4Legal Environment4.26%
4.6Corporate Social Responsibility2.13%
4.7Governance Structures5.32%
Strand 6. Business Management
6.1Management Fundamentals9.57%
6.2Strategic Planning8.51%
6.3Change Management6.38%
6.4Project Management7.45%
6.5Human Resources Planning2.13%
6.8Compensation and Benefits2.13%
6.9Engagement and Retention3.19%
Strand 7. Operations Management
7.4Quality Management3.19%
Strand 8. Data and Process Management
8.3Information Management3.19%

Strategic Entrepreneurship

ODE Subject Code: 141030
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills1.11%
1.2Leadership and Communications2.22%
1.3Business Ethics and Law4.44%
1.5Global Environment2.22%
1.6Business Literacy4.44%
1.7Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurs6.67%
1.8Operations Management1.11%
1.9Financial Management6.67%
Strand 2. Business Foundations
2.1Business Activities8.89%
2.2Economic Principles2.22%
2.3Global Business2.22%
2.4Business Processes1.11%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.1Customer Relations2.22%
3.2Relationship Management2.22%
3.3Business Communications Management1.11%
3.4Marketing Communications2.22%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.4Legal Environment1.11%
4.6Corporate Social Responsibility2.22%
4.8Legal Foundations2.22%
Strand 5. Marketing
5.1Marketing Fundamentals6.67%
5.5Market Planning5.56%
5.8Branding1.11%
5.10Product and Service Development6.67%
Strand 6. Business Management
6.1Management Fundamentals7.78%
6.2Strategic Planning4.44%
6.6Talent Acquisition1.11%
Strand 7. Operations Management
7.5Facilities Management1.11%
Strand 8. Data and Process Management
8.3Information Management1.11%
8.4Business Applications1.11%
Strand 9. Financial Analysis and Evaluation
9.1Financial Fundamentals2.22%
9.7Managerial Accounting4.44%

International Business (RETAKES ONLY)

ODE Subject Code: 141035
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills2.08%
1.2Leadership and Communications4.17%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.13%
1.5Global Environment6.25%
1.6Business Literacy4.17%
1.11Principles of Business Economics9.38%
Strand 2. Business Foundations
2.3International Business18.75%
Strand 3. Business Relationships
3.1Customer Relations3.13%
3.4Social Media Communications3.13%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.6Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)4.17%
Strand 5. Marketing
5.3Marketing Information Management4.17%
5.9Marketing Communications4.17%
Strand 6. Resource Management
6.1Management Fundamentals3.13%
Strand 7. Operations Management
7.2Sourcing and Procurement5.21%
7.4Quality Management3.13%
7.6Distribution and Logistics Management5.21%
7.7Supply Chain Management 4.17%
7.8Operations Risk Management4.17%
Strand 9. Financial Analysis and Evaluation
9.1Financial Principles3.13%
Strand 10. Strategic Management
10.2Strategic Execution5.21%

Operations Management

ODE Subject Code: 142020
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.3Business Ethics and Law3.23%
1.11Principles of Business Economics2.15%
Strand 2. Business Foundations
2.1Business Activities3.23%
2.2Economic Principles3.23%
2.3Global Business2.15%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.1Risk Management Fundamentals6.45%
4.2Contract Oversight3.23%
4.3Compliance3.23%
4.6Corporate Social Responsibility3.23%
Strand 6. Business Management
6.2Strategic Planning2.15%
Strand 7. Operations Management
7.1Safety, Health and Security8.60%
7.2Sourcing and Procurement10.75%
7.3Inventory Management13.98%
7.4Quality Management8.60%
7.5Facilities Management6.45%
7.8Operations Risk Management7.53%
Strand 8. Data and Process Management
8.4Business Applications2.15%
Strand 9. Financial Analysis and Evaluation
9.4Internal Controls3.23%
9.7Managerial Accounting6.45%

Supply Chain Management

ODE Subject Code: 142025
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills1.11%
1.3Business Ethics and Law2.22%
1.5Global Environment1.11%
1.8Operations Management1.11%
1.11Principles of Business Economics2.22%
Strand 2. Business Foundations
2.1Business Activities2.22%
2.3Global Business4.44%
2.4Business Processes2.22%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.2Relationship Management1.11%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.3Compliance3.33%
Strand 6. Business Management
6.2Strategic Planning3.33%
6.4Project Management5.56%
Strand 7. Operations Management
7.1Safety, Health and Security6.67%
7.2Sourcing and Procurement12.22%
7.3Inventory Management12.22%
7.6Distribution and Logistics Management12.22%
7.7Supply Chain Management12.22%
7.8Operations Risk Management4.44%
Strand 8. Data and Process Management
8.1Business Process Analysis3.33%
Strand 9. Financial Analysis and Evaluation
9.4Internal Controls2.22%
9.7Managerial Accounting4.44%

Logistics Management

ODE Subject Code: 142030
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.12%
Strand 2. Business Foundations
2.3Global Business5.62%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.2Contract Oversight7.87%
4.3Compliance3.37%
Strand 6. Business Management
6.1Management Fundamentals2.25%
6.4Project Management7.87%
Strand 7. Operations Management
7.1Safety, Health and Security6.74%
7.2Sourcing and Procurement4.49%
7.3Inventory Management15.73%
7.5Facilities Management10.11%
7.6Distribution and Logistics Management21.35%
7.7Supply Chain Management3.37%
7.8Operations Risk Management2.25%
Strand 9. Financial Analysis and Evaluation
9.7Managerial Accounting7.87%

Marketing Principles

ODE Subject Code: 144000
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills2.22%
1.2Leadership and Communications6.67%
1.3Business Ethics and Law4.44%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.11%
Strand 2. Business Foundations
2.1Business Activities11.11%
2.2Economic Principles4.44%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.3Business Communications Management5.56%
3.4Marketing Communications14.44%
3.5Social Media Communications5.56%
Strand 5. Marketing
5.1Marketing Fundamentals15.56%
5.2Channel Management3.33%
5.3Marketing Information Management3.33%
5.4Marketing Research4.44%
5.5Market Planning2.22%
5.6Pricing3.33%
5.8Branding4.44%
5.9Selling4.44%
5.10Product and Service Development3.33%

Marketing Applications

ODE Subject Code: 144005
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills2.20%
1.2Leadership and Communications5.49%
1.5Global Environment1.10%
1.11Principles of Business Economics4.40%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.3Business Communications Management4.40%
3.4Marketing Communications5.49%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.4Legal Environment1.10%
Strand 5. Marketing
5.1Marketing Fundamentals5.49%
5.2Channel Management6.59%
5.3Marketing Information Management3.30%
5.4Marketing Research7.69%
5.5Market Planning8.79%
5.6Pricing8.79%
5.7Product and Service Management10.99%
5.8Branding12.09%
5.10Product and Service Development9.89%
Strand 9. Financial Analysis and Evaluation
9.7Managerial Accounting2.20%

Integrated Marketing Communications

ODE Subject Code: 144010
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.2Leadership and Communications6.74%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.12%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.1Customer Relations4.49%
3.3Business Communications Management8.99%
3.4Marketing Communications20.22%
3.5Social Media Communications6.74%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.4Legal Environment1.12%
Strand 5. Marketing
5.1Marketing Fundamentals5.62%
5.3Marketing Information Management2.25%
5.4Marketing Research5.62%
5.5Market Planning6.74%
5.7Product and Service Management1.12%
5.8Branding6.74%
5.9Selling2.25%
Strand 6. Business Management
6.2Strategic Planning8.99%
6.4Project Management8.99%
Strand 8. Data and Process Management
8.4Business Applications2.25%

Digital Marketing and Management

ODE Subject Code: 144015
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills2.20%
1.2Leadership and Communications4.40%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology2.20%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.1Customer Relations7.69%
3.3Business Communications Management7.69%
3.4Marketing Communications8.79%
3.5Social Media Communications12.09%
Strand 5. Marketing
5.1Marketing Fundamentals4.40%
5.3Marketing Information Management6.59%
5.4Marketing Research6.59%
5.5Market Planning8.79%
5.7Product and Service Management3.30%
5.8Branding6.59%
Strand 6. Business Management
6.4Project Management6.59%
Strand 8. Data and Process Management
8.4Business Applications6.59%
8.5Knowledge Management5.49%

Marketing Research

ODE Subject Code: 144020
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.30%
1.2Leadership and Communications5.49%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology5.49%
1.8Operations Management2.20%
1.10Sales and Marketing3.30%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.3Business Communications Management3.30%
Strand 5. Marketing
5.1Marketing Fundamentals4.40%
5.3Marketing Information Management7.69%
5.4Marketing Research15.38%
5.5Market Planning9.89%
5.10Product and Service Development3.30%
Strand 6. Business Management
6.2Strategic Planning4.40%
6.4Project Management9.89%
Strand 7. Operations Management
7.4Quality Management3.30%
Strand 8. Data and Process Management
8.2Data Research and Analysis12.09%
8.4Business Applications6.59%

Merchandising and Buying

ODE Subject Code: 144025
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills1.06%
1.2Leadership and Communications8.51%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology1.06%
Strand 2. Business Foundations
2.3Global Business4.26%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.1Customer Relations6.38%
3.2Relationship Management1.06%
3.3Business Communications Management4.26%
3.4Marketing Communications4.26%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.6Corporate Social Responsibility3.19%
Strand 5. Marketing
5.1Marketing Fundamentals3.19%
5.3Marketing Information Management4.26%
5.4Marketing Research2.13%
5.5Market Planning6.38%
5.7Product and Service Management10.64%
5.8Branding3.19%
Strand 7. Operations Management
7.2Sourcing and Procurement12.77%
7.3Inventory Management10.64%
7.4Quality Management8.51%
7.7Supply Chain Management4.26%

Professional and Technical Sales

ODE Subject Code: 144030
Outcome #Outcome Name% Items Approved by SMEs
Strand 1. Business Operations/21st Century Skills
1.1Employability Skills3.41%
1.2Leadership and Communications9.09%
1.3Business Ethics and Law1.14%
1.4Knowledge Management and Information Technology3.41%
Strand 2. Business Foundations
2.1Business Activities4.55%
Strand 3. Business Communications
3.1Customer Relations7.95%
3.2Relationship Management4.55%
3.3Business Communications Management9.09%
3.5Social Media Communications3.41%
Strand 4. Business Governance
4.6Corporate Social Responsibility4.55%
Strand 5. Marketing
5.1Marketing Fundamentals6.82%
5.3Marketing Information Management3.41%
5.4Marketing Research3.41%
5.5Market Planning5.68%
5.6Pricing7.95%
5.9Selling14.77%
Strand 7. Operations Management
7.2Sourcing and Procurement2.27%
Strand 8. Data and Process Management
8.3Information Management4.55%

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