Table of Specifications (TOS)

What is a Table of Specifications (TOS)

Table of Specifications or TOS is a test map that guides the teacher in constructing
a test. The TOS ensures that there is a balance between items that test lower
thinking skills and those which test higher order thinking (a balance between easy
and difficult items) in a test.

What is the Purpose of a Table of Specification (TOS).

Its main purpose is to improve validity teachers evaluation based on a given
assessment.
Validity – is the degree to which evaluation or judgments we make as teachers
about our students can be trusted based on the quality of evidence we gathered.
Identifying Test objectives. An objective test, if it is to be comprehensive,
must cover the various levels of Blooms Taxonomy. Each of objective consists of a
statement of what is to be achieved and, preferably, by how many percent of the
students.

Example. We went to construct a test on the topic “Subject - Verb

Agreement in English Class” the following are objectives.

1. Knowledge. The students must be able to identify the subject and the verb
in a given sentence.
2. Comprehension. The students must be able to determine appropriate form
of a verb to be used given the subject of a sentence.
3. Application. The students must be able to write sentence observing rules
on subject – verb agreement.
4. Analysis. The students must be able to break down a sentence into its
subject and predicate.
5. Synthesis. The students must be able to formulate rules to be followed
regarding subject – verb agreement.
 Preparing a Table of Specifications
The simplest TOS consists of four (4) columns:
1. Level of objective to be tested.
2. Statement of objective.
3. Item numbers where such an objective is being tested.
4. Number of items and percentage out of the total for that particular
objective.

Table: Table of Specifications

Level Objective Item Numbers NO %
1. Knowledge Identify subject – 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 5 16.67%
verb
2. Forming appropriate 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 5 16.67%
Comprehensive verb forms
3. Application Determining subject 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 5 16.67%
and predicate
4. Analysis Formulating rules on 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 5 16.67%
agreement
5. Synthesis Writing of Sentences Part II 10 33.32%
observing rules on pts.
subject –verb
agreement
Total 30 100%
pts.
 TABLE OF SPECIFICATION
MATH II

Content Time Weight No. Skills

Allotment of Knowledge Comprehensive Application Analysis Synthesis
Items
1. Algebraic 20 12% 6
Expressions
and
Operation
2. Sentences 25 15% 8
in Two
Variables
3. Linear 25 15% 8
Relationships
4. Systems of 18 11% 6
Linear
Equations and
inequalities
5. Some 28 17% 8
Geometric
Relations
6. Triangle 14 9% 4
Congruence
7. 15 9% 4
Quadrilaterals
8. Measures 20 12% 6
in Statistics
165 100% 50