What is the Table of Specifications (TOS) in assessment design?

• A. Courage
• B. Table of Specifications (TOS)
• C. Excerpt from Like the Molave
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that a Table of Specifications (TOS) is a blueprint used in assessment design to map what will be tested to the course objectives and content areas, as well as to the level of thinking required. This plan helps ensure the test covers all topics in proportion to their importance and that items match the intended cognitive demands.

A well-made TOS lays out the content domains or topics and links them to specific learning outcomes and to different cognitive levels (such as recall, understanding, application, analysis). It often appears as a matrix showing how many items should come from each topic and at each level, guiding item writers so the final exam fairly represents the curriculum and assesses students at the intended depths of understanding. Creating the TOS before writing questions helps maintain validity and reliability by preventing overemphasis on any one topic or on easier questions.

In short, the Table of Specifications is the planning tool that ensures a test is aligned with what was taught and what students were expected to learn, balancing content coverage and cognitive demand.