A practical guide to test blueprinting

Abstract

A test blueprint describes the key elements of a test, including the content to be covered, the amount of emphasis allocated to each content area, and other important features. This article offers practical guidelines for developing test blueprints. We first discuss the role of learning outcomes and behavioral objectives in test blueprinting, and then describe a four-stage process for creating test blueprints. The steps include identifying the major knowledge and skill domains (i.e. competencies); delineating the specific assessment objectives; determining the method of assessment to address those objectives; and establishing the amount of emphasis to allocate to each knowledge or skill domain. The article refers to and provides examples of numerous test blueprints for a wide variety of knowledge and skill domains. We conclude by discussing the role of test blueprinting in test score validation, and by summarizing some of the other ways that test blueprints support instruction and assessment.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the National Board of Medical Examiners and the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science for their support of this work. The viewpoints expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of their employers.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mark R. Raymond

Mark R. Raymond, Ph.D., is a Research Director and Principal Assessment Scientist at the National Board of Medical Examiners in Philadelphia, PA, USA. For 30 years Dr. Raymond has worked for and consulted with licensing agencies, professional associations, and universities on assessment activities ranging from item-writing workshops to standard-setting studies.

Joseph P. Grande

Joseph P. Grande, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota. He has worked as a renal pathologist and medical educator for nearly 30 years, and served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Mayo from 2007–2013.