Ministry of Education

Test Blueprint for National Exit Examination to be held in

2015 E.C

Band: 2

Program: - Bachelor of Science Degree in Biotechnology

Compiled By:

Dr. Ebrahim Mama (Assistant Professor)

Mr. Sefinew Tilahun (Assistant Professor)

Mr. Tegegne Bayih (Assistant Professor)

January, 2023

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Objective of test blueprint...........................................................................................................................4
Expected graduate profiles..........................................................................................................................4
General objective........................................................................................................................................5
Specific objectives.......................................................................................................................................5
Themes and list of courses..........................................................................................................................9
Test Blueprint (Table Specification) for BSC in Biotechnology...................................................................10
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................18
Introduction
The Ministry of Education of Ethiopia has announced the implementation of exit exam for
all undergraduate program students (public and private), beginning with the 2022/2023
academic year, in order to improve the quality of graduates produced by higher learning
institutions. The exit exam aimed at checking whether students have acquired the required
knowledge, skills and attitudes or not. To implement this, it requires determining
competency areas for a specific program, which is already completed. Based on the
competency areas prepared, it needs to plan the construction of tests.

Planning of a test is a first and vital step in the construction of an achievement test. An
achievement test demands very systematic and careful planning, as a fact that good planning
is a symbol of success. Tests are the tools that provide scores that measure level of student
learning and study program learning outcomes. In order to achieve the valid and reliable
measurement of student learning and program learning outcomes, the development of valid
and reliable test is the mandatory. Test should be able to measure student performance in all
dimensions of knowledge, skill and attitude. The carefully planned test construction
contributes to improve the overall quality of the test in terms of test content validity,
difficulty level, discrimination power and test reliability. Test preparation is not an easy task;
it requires a careful planning and guideline to make the task simple. Test construction needs
the preparation of test blue print. Test blueprint is defined as a complete plan that explains
how to develop a test. The term refers to a map or specification of assessment to ensure that
all aspects of the curriculum and educational domains are covered by the assessment
programs over a specified period of time. It helps curriculum developers/test constructors to
match various competencies with the course content and the appropriate modality of
assessment.

Generally, test blueprint will help to ensure tests: 1) Appropriately assess the achievement of
instructional objectives of the course; 2) Appropriately reflect key course goals, objectives
and the material learned or covered during the instruction period; and 3) Include the
appropriate item formats along with the knowledge and skills being assessed.
 Keeping this in mind, the team has prepared this test blueprint document in order to help the
test developers or content specialists in their process of valid and reliable test construction.
The major points considered in the process of preparing this test blue print guideline were the
core competencies that have been already identified for the themes of courses, the course
contents, course credit hours, and the learning outcomes with their corresponding levels of
achievement by learning domains. In line with these, the number of test items that should
adequately assess the performance of students in all the content topics will be determined
through discussion with the content specialists who construct the blueprint and test for their
corresponding study program.

Therefore, the main purpose of this manual is to give direction on how to develop blueprint
for content specialists so that they can develop a test blueprint for their respective program.

Objective of test blueprint

Test blueprint preparation is generally opted to assist the preparation of a test that is
representative, broadly sampled, and consisting of complete knowledge domain expected of the
Ethiopian higher education students on completion of their study program. The specific
objectives of test blueprint are to:
 Facilitate the construction of a representative and balanced test items for the selected
courses in accordance with the competencies identified.
 Guide test developers or writers to write or set appropriate test items.
Expected graduate profiles
The graduates of Biotechnology program will be expected to:

 work at governmental, non-governmental or private institutions in agricultural, medical,

industrial, environmental protection as researchers and graduate assistants, laboratory
technicians, service providers, and development workers;
 have basic understanding of technical and scientific tools of Biotechnology;
 be aware of and adopt current advances of technology in life science;
 identify problems; design and execute research projects in biotechnology and related
areas;
  follow and adapt standard procedures to carry out qualitative and quantitative analysis in
Biotechnology laboratories;
 assist regulatory bodies in using and managing Biotechnology products;
 apply basic biotechnological principles for innovation;
 capable of understanding current issues and debates in Biotechnology and biosafety
at national and international levels;
 pursue further specialized educations in various fields of Biotechnology and related
fields;
 write scientific papers in order to disseminate scientific knowledge of biotechnology;
 be entrepreneurs who will invest their knowledge in different sectors of life sciences

General objective
 The undergraduate Biotechnology program aims at producing graduates who are well
equipped with knowledge and skills in Biotechnology so as to efficiently exploit the
potential of this new field in bringing country’s development in terms of economy, health
and environment.
Specific objectives
 Appreciate the process of enzyme production and their wide application for different
commercial products;
 Apply biochemical calculations to enzyme kinetics and immobilization of enzyme for
continuous use and improved process control;
 Be aware of the new developments in enzyme technology
 Discuss the basics of enzyme properties, nomenclatures and classifications
 Compare different bioreactor types and designs used for bio based product formation
 Explain product formation, purification and recovery processes and technologies
 Describe growth of microorganism in industrial setting
 Describe the applications of microbes for the production of different biotechnologically
valuable products
 Appreciate food flavor and additives in food industries
 Debate advantage and disadvantage of genetically modified foods
 Identify the fundamental principle and processing of meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables and
beverages
 Apply food safety and security principles and practices
 Identify the factors associated with food spoilage and foodborne diseases
 Perform microbial screening, isolation, and improvement techniques
 Analyze the processes involved in microbial fermentation technologies
 Comprehend the applications of microbes in industrial, agricultural and environmental
biotechnology
 Manipulate plants and animals under in vitro conditions
 Conduct genetic diversity analysis, Gene or QTL mapping and marker assisted selection
 Apply the basic principle of genetic engineering to solve the problems in agricultural sector
to promote crop and livestock production and productivity.
 Familiar with the information about equipment, procedure and terminology of aseptic animal
cell culture.
 Apply cell culture techniques and their uses in plant sciences research and industry.
 Select appropriate breeding method in improving a specific crop
 Describe mechanism of DNA replication
 Express the structure, and function of DNA and RNA
 Describe mechanisms of transcription and translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
 Recognize mechanism of gene regulation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
 Describe the consequences of different types of mutations and DNA-repair systems in
organisms
 Explain the principles of gene regulation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell
 Acquire the basic skills involved in handling biotechnological laboratory activities
 Conduct the basic molecular biology and biotechnology techniques:
 Identify different sequencing techniques
 Describe the structure and function of each cell and organ of the immune system
 Distinguish between innate and acquired immunity
 Compare and contrast cell mediated and humoral immunity
 Explain different types of antigen/ antibody reactions and complement system
 Apply common immunological techniques
 Discuss on the types and roles of immunization
 Interpret the mechanisms by which molecular defects cause human disease, including the
mechanisms by which gene abnormalities may lead to various abnormalities in protein
structure and function
 interpret application of immunology
 Analyze applications of medical biotechnology in disease diagnosis
 Articulate the production of monoclonal Antibody
 internalize stem cell, gene therapy
 Recognize environmental problems posed by human and natural phenomena
 Identify the methods used for removal of pollutants and wastes from the environment using
biological methods
 Solving environmental problems posed by human and natural phenomena using different
types of bioremediation process
 Appreciate the use of ecofriendly methods to maintain the environment clean and restore the
degraded lands.
 Discus on different types of waste and waste management techniques
 Express the process of biological wastewater treatment method
 Explain the role of vermitechnology in environmental cleaning process
 Identify types of risk and method of management of risks
 Recall areas of public concern in biotechnology
 Evaluate the status of public awareness of biotechnology
 Assess biosafety issues of biotechnology
 Debate about the impact of GMO and biosafety issues
 Identify various Cloning and Expression vectors and techniques used for genetic
transformations;
 Explain the applications of enzymes in genetic engineering
 Perform transformation and blotting techniques
 Describe the concepts of genomic library, constructing cloning and expression vectors for
genetic transformation, ,
 List different types of biological databases
 Retrieve information from different biological database
 Compare and contrast pairwise and multiple alignments
 Analyze nucleic acid and protein sequence alignment and analyze the results using biological
database
 Construct phylogenetic tree using distance and character based approaches
 Design different types of primers and probes
 Identify the 3D structure of a protein
 Themes and list of courses
 Table 1. Selected course distributions in them areas

Number
of
S. %ECT Selected
Areas/Streams ECTS Selected Courses Cr. Hrs.
N S Courses
(out of
15)
Microbial
Biotechnology (2+1)
Food Biotechnology (2+0)
Microbial and Industrial
industrial Biotechnology (2+1)
1 Biotechnology 27 25 4 Enzyme Technology (2+1)
Plant Biotechnology (2+0)
Animal
Biotechnology (2+1)
Agricultural Plant Cell and Tissue
2 Biotechnology 21 19.2 3 Culture (1+1 /0+2)*
Molecular biology (2+0/3+0)*
Techniques in
18
3 Basic Biotechnology 16.5 2 Molecular biology (0+1/0+2)*
Medical
Biotechnology (2+1 /3+0)*
Medical Immunology and
4 Biotechnology 16 14.7 2 Immune-technology (2+1)
Environmental
Biotechnology (2+1/ 3+0)*
Biosafety and
Intellectual Property
Environmental Right in
5 Biotechnology 14 12.8 2 Biotechnology (2+0)
6 Genomics and 13 11.9 2 Genetic Engineering (2+1)
Bioinformatics
and Bioinformatics Bioinformatics (2+1)
 *= Credit hour difference in the harmonized and Addis Ababa Science and Technology
University
 Table 2 Test Blueprint (Table Specification) for BSC in Biotechnology

Learning outcomes

Themes Name of Courses Cre Share

dit of the General objective Content Specific objectives
hour themes
in %

A
S
Industrial and Microbial Biotechnology 3 7.89 Assess the application of Industrial microbes isolation and Perform microbial 33.33
Microbial microbes in industrial, improvement screening isolation, and
Biotechnolog agricultural and improvement techniques
y environmental Microbial fermentation Analyze the processes 33.33
biotechnology involved in microbial
fermentation
technologies
Application of microbes Describe the applications 33.33
of microbes in industrial,
agricultural and
environmental
biotechnology
Food Biotechnology 2 5.26 applying the Flavor and additives in food Recognize food flavor 16.6
fundamental principle industries and additives in food
and processing of food industries
technologies
7

Genetically modified food Debate advantage and

disadvantage of
genetically modified
16.67
foods
Animals-based foods and Identify the
dairy industry
fundamental principle
and processing of 16.6
meat and dairy 7
industry

Fruits, vegetables and Explain the 16.6

beverages fundamental principle 7
and processing of
Fruits, vegetables and
 beverages

Food borne disease identify the factors

associated with food 16.6
spoilage and 7
foodborne diseases
Food safety and security Apply food safety and
16.6
security principles and
practices 7
Industrial 3 7.89 Apply the principles of Industrial Microbial growth Describe growth of
Biotechnology biotechnology industries microorganism in 25
to develop bio-based industrial setting
products Bioreactor and Fermentation Choose different
process types of bioreactor and 25
process for bio based
product formation
Downstream processing perform product
formation, purification
25
and recovery processes
and technologies
Microbial industrial products Comprehend the
applications of microbes
for the production of
25
different
biotechnologically
valuable products
Enzyme technology 3 7.89 the apply the process of Biocatalysts Discuss the basics of
enzyme production and enzyme properties,
16.67
their wide application for nomenclatures and
different commercial classifications
products Enzyme mechanism and kinetics Perform a biochemical 16.67
calculation for enzyme
kinetics
Enzyme production Describe enzymes
production, purification 16.67
and recovery
Enzyme Immobilization Perform methods
16.67
enzyme immobilization
Enzyme engineering Explain methods of
16.67
Enzyme engineering
Application of Enzymes Discuss various
application of enzymes
16.67
in different industrial
processes
Agricultural 5.26 Understanding gene Gene Cloning and transfer Articulate 20
biotechnolog Plant Biotechnology 2 transfer, cloning, Crop Agrobacterium-
y improvement technology mediated
and GMO transformation
 Transplastomics and its Explain the concepts 20
important of transcriptomics
Marker assisted Selection analysis 20
Marker assisted
selection procedures
Crop improvement technology Discuss Gene silencing 20
by RNAi
A n d Virus induced
gene silencing
Genetic engineering in plant Apply techniques in 20
genetic engineering
processes
5.26 Assess fertilization and Fertilization and internalize fertilization 33.3
Animal Biotechnology 2 Embryogenesis, cell Embryogenesis in animals and Embryogenesis 3
culture techniques
Animal cells and tissue Perform the animal 33.33
and genetic engineering culture cell culture techniques
in animals
Genetic engineering in illustrate the 33.3
animals principles and 3
Plant cell and 2 5.26 Understand the Plant tissue culture Formulate different 33.33
formulation and combinations of
tissue culture media media for the growth of
combination of media
plant cell
for the growth of
different culture Plant growth hormones Manipulate 33.33
and function of
application
the growth hormones
Plant production from Precise handling 33.33
haploid material, somatic
embryogenesis and
meristem culture
Basic Molecular Biology 2 5.26 Know the central Structure and function of Explain the 20
Biotechno dogma of nucleic acids structure of
logy molecular biology nucleic acids
-DNA replication, DNA replication Describe mechanism 20
of DNA replication
transcription and
Gene expression illustrate mechanism 20
translation of transcription and
processes. translation in
prokaryotes and
eukaryotes
Regulation of gene Recognize 20
 expression mechanism of gene
regulation in
prokaryotes and
eukaryotes
Mutation and repair categorize types of 20
mechanism mutation and
repair mechanisms
Techniques in 2 5.26 Acquire the basic Safety, precaution and Exercise the basic 33.33
molecular Biology skills basic skills in handing of laboratory
skills involved in
molecular biology equipment
handling
biotechnological
laboratory
activities
Basic laboratory Conduct the basic 33.33
techniques in molecular
molecular biology
biology
and biotechnology
techniques:
Sequencing methods Identify different 33.3
3
sequencing
techniques
Medical Medical 3 7.89 To understand Cancer biology and Describe about cancer, 20
Biotechno Biotechnology overall application genetics its types and
of medical treatment.
logy biotechnology in Disease diagnosis Analyze applications o 20
treatment of diseases f medical
biotechnology in disea
se diagnosis
Simple Proteins and Appreciate the 20
Therapeutic Agents and applications of
Disease treatment proteins as
therapeutic agents
Hybridoma technology Articulate the producti 20
on of monoclonal
 Antibody
stem cell technology internalize stem cell, 20
gene therapy
Immunology and 3 7.89 Know the basic cell and organ of the Describe the 20
Immunotechnolog principles of structure and
immunology and immune system
y immunotechnology
function of each
cell and organ of
the immune
system
Types of immunity Compare and 20
contrast different
types of immunity
Complement system and Explain the 20
antigen antibody complement
interaction system and anigine
antibody
interaction
Immunological Perform different 20
techniques immunological
techniques
Immunization Appreciate the 20
benefit of
immunization
Environm Environmental 3 7.89 Kno Environmental Pollution Identify types of 16.6
ental Biotechnology w and pollution control pollution and 7
Biotechno the method pollution control
logy met methods
hod Waste and waste List types of waste 16.6
s management and waste 7
used management
for techniques
rem Biological wastewater Express the 16.6
oval treatment process of 7
of biological
poll wastewater
utan treatment method
ts
 and Bioremedation Perform different 16.67
wast types of
es bioremediation
fro process
m Biological Remediation Explain heavy 16.6
the Processes for heavy metal pollutant 7
envi metal pollutants in removal methods
ron wastewater
men Vermitechnology Justify the role of 16.67
t vermitechnology
usin in environmental
g cleaning process
biol
ogic
al
met
hod
s
Biosafety and IPR 2 5.26 Understand Principles of risk and Perceive types of 25
environmental Risk management risk and method of
problems posed by management of
human and natural risks
phenomena
Biosafety Recall areas of 25
Issues/Concerns public concern in
Worldwide biotechnology

Analysis and Building Sense biosafety 25

of Biosafety Regulatory issues of
Framework biotechnology

Genetically Modified Debate the impact 25

Organisms (GMOs) and of GMO and
biosafety policy biosafety issues
Genomics Genetic 3 7.89 Understand what Vectors in Recombinant list different types 16.6
and engineering genetic engineering is DNA Technology of vectors in 7
and its application in
Bioinform genetic
atics various discipline engineering
Enzymes in Genetic Explain the 16.6
Engineering and their applications of 7
Mechanism of Action enzymes in genetic
engineering
Nucleic acid Discuss types of 16.6
hybridization and nucleic acid 7
amplification hybridization
techniques
Construction of DNA Describe types of 16.6
libraries DNA library 7
Transgenic Science and Recognize the 16.6
Genetic improvement application of 7
transgenic science
in genetic
improvement
Gene Therapy, Explain the gene 16.6
Introduction and Methods therapy methods 7
Bioinformatics 3 7.89 Know molecular Biological database and List different types 16.6
data analysis and methods of information of biological 7
tools retrieval from biological databases for
database information
retrieval
Sequence alignment Compare and 16.67
contrast pairwise
and multiple
alignment
Sequence-based database Perform nucleic 16.67
similarity searching acid and protein
sequence
alignment and
analyze the results
Methods of phylogenetic Construct 16.67
analysis phylogenetic tree
using distance and
character based
approaches
Protein structure Design different 16.67
prediction and primer types of primers
designing and probes
Identify the 3D 16.6
structure of a 7
protein
Total
Key: In the cells/boxes there are numbers that indicate the number of items that correspond to the
levels of domains.

Conclusion
Exit examination can have a vital role in producing knowledgeable, skillful and attitudinally
matured graduates. It contributes to prepare competent graduates as it can serve as a quality
check for effectiveness. It also helps in improving academic programs quality and effectiveness.
Furthermore, it can create the platform for cooperation among academic programs at different
universities to work jointly to improve the programs quality.
In view of this, this document is produced to assist the setting of the exit examinations for all
programs, which is being delivered by Ministry of Education. To meet the graduation profile,
competency and learning outcome, exit exam competency selection and identifying core course
was done for 2015 EC graduating students. As a result, preparing test blueprint is necessary to
prepare fairly distributed items based on the above criteria.