Ministry of Education

Test Blueprint for National Exit Examination to be held in

2015 E.C

Band: Four (4)

Program: - Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Agribusiness and Value

Chain Management

Compiled By: Fuad Kemal, Haramaya University

Deen Hailu, Haramaya University

Tinsae Olika, Semera University

January, 2023

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Table of Contents Page

1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………….1
2. Objective/ Significance of Test Blueprint Document………………………………………2
2.1. Objective of the test blueprint Document………………………………………………2
2.2. Significance of Test Blueprint Document…………………………………………….2

3. Expected profile of the graduates…………………………………………………………………..3

4. Objective of the program……………………………………………………………………………..4
3.1.General Objective…………………………………………………………………….4
3.2. Specific objectives………………………………………………………………….6
5. Themes and courses to be included in the exit exam………………………………………8
6. Share of the Themes/Courses/Items in Percentage (%)……………………………………9
7. Test blueprint Table (Table of Specification……………………………………………….11
8. Share of Competencies (KSA) per Courses / Summery/…………………………………..20
9. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………21
1. 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.

2. Objective/ Significance of Test Blueprint Document

2.1. Objective of the test blueprint Document

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.

2.2. Significance of Test Blueprint Document

It is important to set competency areas of the subject matter (program) in order to measure the
how much graduates are acquired with skills, knowledge and attitudes. Test blueprint is a
three-dimensional chart that shows the placement of each question in respect of the objective
and the content area that it tests. The following shows us the significance of the test blueprint;
o Test blueprint used for examination contains the strategy of exam by an educational
institution;
o a test blueprint will help us plan which questions to include in your exam and ensure that
it adequately assesses the learning objectives of the course; and
o It defines the knowledge, skills and attitude you want to assess and will enable you to
build purpose-driven, successful assessments.

3. Expected profile of the graduates

In general, the graduate of the program is expected to analyze and interprets information on farm
production methods and technologies across the value chain. In particular after successful
completion of the training, the graduates are expected to gain knowledge and skills that enable
them to:
 Analyze agribusiness sector investment opportunities and limitations; and evaluate
investment climate for agribusiness enterprises.
 Identify and develop potential value chains for major commodities in the country
 Apply economic, political, legal, commercial and business theories and concepts in
solving practical problems and for improving practices
 Apply their knowledge to establish and effectively run their own private firms or
agribusiness enterprises
 Consult and practice on the identification, appraisal and implementation of agribusiness
development polices, projects and programs.
 Serve as planners in agriculture and rural development,
 Work as agribusiness and value chain management analysts,
 Advise on economic and business matters in agribusiness and value chain area,
 Apply socio-economic researches in dealing with practical issues and concerns,
 Work as Teacher, Market expert, Loan officer, Credit expert, and Policy idea generator

Agribusiness and Value Chain Management graduates will be able to acquire the following
competencies:
 Knowledge
 Work as Teacher, Market expert, Loan officer, Credit expert, and Policy idea generator
 Work as agribusiness and value chain management analysts,
 Serve as planners in agribusiness and value chain,
 Advise on economic and business matters in agribusiness and value chain arena,
 Understand concepts of crop and livestock value chain management in identifying
leverage area of technical and policy intervention
 Understand the concept of agricultural projects, their features and their role towards
 national development
 Analyze agribusiness sector investment opportunities and limitations; and evaluate
investment climate for agribusiness enterprises.
 Understand concepts of marketing and the role of marking in economic development
 Skill
 Acquire skill helps them to identify challenges and opportunities along the value chain
 Identify and develop potential value chains for major commodities in the country
 Apply economic principles and theories for optimum resource allocation and utilization,
 Measure risk and return of an agribusiness and make effective investment decision
 Apply socio-economic researches in dealing with practical issues and concerns
 Make effective financial decision using the appropriate financial tools
 Apply economic, commercial and business theories and concepts in solving practical
problems and for improving practices.
 Apply their knowledge to establish and effectively run their own private firms or
agribusiness enterprises
 Attitude
 Develop a desire to establish and run their own private firms or agribusiness enterprises
 Maintain a confidence towards applying a knowledge and techniques acquire to solve
problems in their field of study
 Appreciate the agribusiness profession

4. Objective of the program

4.1. General Objective
General objectives are the following:

 Providing the basis to develop a new value chain as well as improving an existing value
chain by developing value chain strategies.
 Equip students with the concepts and principles of management of Logistics
 Understand concepts of livestock value chain management in identifying leverage area of
technical and policy intervention.
 Understand concepts of value addition and value chain analysis of major crops
 To introduce students with the concept of Agribusiness, and Agribusiness management,
the different legal forms of Agribusiness.
 To equip students with basic tools used for making decisions on farm management
contexts and the tools required in managing the organization and operation of a firm for
continuous profits and efficiency.
 The aim of this course is to make students acquainted with definitions and basic concepts
of Economics.
 Expose students to the economic role of marketing and approaches to the study of
agricultural markets
 The course Agricultural Credit and Finance is intended to familiarize students with the
concept of financial scenario in the Agricultural sector.
 Focuses on the acquisition of financial resources and their effective utilization in running a
business enterprise for profit, with special emphasis on agribusiness organizations.
 The objective of this course is to train professionals with basic principles and tools of
strategic management and policy setting.
 To introduce students with the basic concepts of agricultural and rural development
projects and to make them have an insight into the role of projects towards development of
the country
 The purpose of the course is to provide students with the concepts and tools to help them
understand the operations research and mathematical modeling methods
 The aim of this course is to develop students' knowledge and understanding of quantitative
and qualitative research methods in Agribusiness and Value Chain Management.
 The objective is to quantify such relationships using available data and statistical
techniques to interpret and use the resulting outcomes.
4.2. Specific objectives
The specific objectives are the following:

 Providing clear insights on the process of value chain formation, structure, networks,
relationships and chain development strategies will be able to conduct value chain analysis
and apply value chain approach in development intervention
 They will also appreciate the importance of different organization’s value chain
development approach.
 Explain the concepts of logistics and logistics management in value chain
 Get skill required to warehouse operation and Inventory management
 Demonstrate skills in product labeling, packaging, improving inventory
 Appreciate importance of linkage between ICT and Logistic operation
 To enable to understand the livestock and livestock function under different livestock
production system
 Acquire skill and knowledge helps them to identify challenges and opportunities along the
livestock value chain
 Assess the economic feasibility, social acceptability and environmental friendliness of
livestock products value addition
 Apply the basic principles of processing crop products to value added food commodities
 Improving producers capacity in crop value chain networking, value addition and
distribution of margins
 Identify causes of post-harvest losses and handling methods of post-harvest losses in crop
production
 Understand the concept, distinguish the nature, and define the scope of Agribusiness.
 Understand how to develop strategic plan
 Students will get the skill needed to: succeed in business, effectively manage Agribusiness
for better productivity and business performance.
 Identify various production relations in pursuit of optimal resources combination
 that suites specific farm situation,
 Apply management science and economics tools to solve farm related problems,.
 Analyze farm business investment opportunities for effective farm planning,
 Apply farm planning and budgeting techniques in farm management decision-making,
 Understand theory of demand and supply
 Understand different types of production relationships
 Explain market structures
 Understand concepts of marketing and the role of marking in economic development
 Apply different approaches to capture problems of agricultural marketing
 Students will able to deal with marketing costs, channels and marketing margins
 understand the concepts of finance, agricultural finance, micro finance, credit, and
insurance
 Prepare, interpret and evaluate financial statements;
 Make effective financial decision using the appropriate financial tools;
 Understand the basic principles and assumptions in financial management
 Understand the concept of financing decisions
 Make financial planning and forecast
 Identify the difference between policy and strategy
 Analyze the impact of agribusiness environments on strategic decisions of agribusiness
 firms
 Conduct SWOT analysis of organizations
 Integrate techniques and principles in agribusiness policies.
 Understand the concept of agricultural projects, their features and their role towards
national development
 understand the different aspects of project preparation and analysis identify different
approaches to cost-benefit analysis of agricultural projects;
 Understanding about the different methods of selecting or appraising agricultural projects
 Get an insight into the project costs and benefits, project cycle and sources of idea about
it;
 To enable students gain knowledge and skills that allow them to formulate the real world
problems in Agribusiness and Value Chain Management
 To enable students to acquire knowledge and techniques of optimization and apply in
solving problems in their field of study.
 To equip students with the skills to implement and solve models using QM and Excel
software.
 Define research and understand different types of research
 Describe and compare different research paradigm based on their methodological strength
and weakness
 Select and apply research paradigm in problems in Agribusiness and Value Chain
 Construct an effective data collection tools for both qualitative and qualitative research.
 Understand the main goals of econometrics and its purpose
 Develop/ formulate regression models based on theory in their field of study
 Estimate the regression model using the real data and interpret the result
 Understand and Apply the methodology of Econometrics for their research project

5. Themes and courses to be included in the exit exam

Table 1: themes and course included in the exit exam

R.N Cr
Themes Lists of selected courses Remark
o. Hours
1 Value chain analysis Value Chain Analysis and Development 3
and development Logistics in Value Chain 3
Livestock Value Chain Management 3
Crop Value Chain Management 3
2 Agribusiness Introduction to Agribusiness Management 3
Management Farm Management 3
Microeconomics 3
3 Agribusiness Agricultural Marketing 3
Marketing Agricultural Credit and Finance 3
Financial management 3
4 Planning and strategy Agribusiness Policy and Strategy 3
development Project Planning and Analysis 3
5 Research in Operation Research in Agribusiness 3
Agribusiness and Research methods in Agribusiness and Value 3
value chain Chain
Econometrics 3
Total (Aggregate) 45
6. Share of the Themes/Courses/Items in Percentage (%)
Table 2: Share of the themes/courses/items and CAPs in percentage (%)

Themes Course C Weight of Number of test Cognitive

T
o

a
t

l
Name re course or items from each

psychomotor
Understand
Remember
di proportio course

outcomes
Learning

Affective
Evaluate
Analyze
t n

Create
Apply
ho
ur
Value Value Chain 3 3/12= 0.25*27 = 6.75 - 0.75 0.75 0.75 - - 2.25 2.25 6.75
chain Analysis and 0.25
analysis Development
and Logistics in 3 3/12= 0.25*27 = 6.75 1.68 - - - - - 1.68 3.37 6.75
Value Chain 0.25
develop
ment Livestock 3 3/12= 0.25*27 = 6.75 - 2.25 - - 2.25 - - 2.25 6.75
Value Chain 0.25
Share =
Management
27% Crop Value 3 3/12= 0.25*27 = 6.75 - 2.25 - - 2.25 - - 2.25 6.75
items Chain 0.25
from the Management
total Theme one total 12
credit
Agribusi Introduction 3 3/9 = 0.33 0.33*20= 6.67 - 4.45 - - - - 2.22 6.67
ness to
Manage Agribusiness
Management
ment
Farm 3 3/9 = 0.33 0.33*20= 6.67 1.48 - 1.48 1.48 - - 2.22 6.67
Management
Share = Microecono 3 3/9 = 0.33 0.33*20= 6.67 2.22 4.45 2 3 2 1 - - 6.67
20% mics
items Theme two total 9
from the credit
total
Agribusi Agricultural 3 3/9 = 0.33 0.33*20= 6.67 - 2.22 2.23 - - - 2.22 6.67
ness Marketing
Marketi Agricultural 3 3/9 = 0.33 0.33*20= 6.67 - 2.22 - - - - - 4.45 6.67
ng Credit and
Finance
Share = Financial 3 3/9 = 0.33 0.33*20= 6.67 - 4.45 - - - - - 2.22 6.67
20% management
items Theme three total 9
from the credit
total
Plannin Agribusiness 3 3/6 = 0.5 0.5*13= 6.5 - 1.44 1.44 - - 1. - 2.16 6.5
g and Policy and 44
strategy Strategy
develop Project 3 3/6 = 0.5 0.5*13= 6.5 - 6.5 - - - - - - 6.5
Planning and
ment
Analysis
Theme four total 6
Share = credit
13%
items
from the
total
Researc Operation 3 3/9 = 0.33 0.33*20= 6.67 - 3.33 - - - - - 3.335 6.67
h in Research in
Agribusi Agribusiness
ness and Research 3 3/9 = 0.33 0.33*20= 6.67 1.48 - 1.48 - - 1. - 2.22 6.67
value methods in 48
chain Agribusiness
and Value
Share = Chain
20% Econometrics 3 3/9 = 0.33 0.33*20= 6.67 - 1.48 1.48 - - 1. - 2.22
items 48
from the Theme five total 9
total credit
Total for the program 45
7. Test blueprint Table (Table of Specification) Table 3: Test Blue-Print
table
Ministry of Education (Table 3)
Higher Education Sub-sector Test Blueprint (Table Specification) for BSc. in Agribusiness and Value Chain Management

Learning outcomes
Cognitive
Themes and Name of
Share of the the Cr

Understanding
team Courses Hr General Specific objectives /learning

Remembering

Psychomotor

No. of items
Application
and objective/Com outcomes

Evaluation

Synthesis
Affective
Creation/
share of petency

Analysis
the
course
Value chain Value 3 Providing the  Will gain clear insights 0.75% 0.75 0.75 2.25 2.2 6.75
analysis Chain basis to develop the process of value % % 5% %
(27%) Analysis a new value chain formation,
and chain as well as structure, networks,
Develop improving an relationships and chain
ment existing value development strategies
(6.75%) chain by  Will be able to conduct
developing value chain analysis
value chain and apply value
strategies  Chain approach in
development
intervention
 They will also
appreciate the
importance of different
organization’s value
chain development
approach
Logistics 3 Equip students  Explain the concepts of - 1.68 3.3
in Value with the logistics and logistics 75% 75
Chain concepts and management in value %
(6.75%) principles of chain
management of  Get skill required to
Logistics warehouse operation
and Inventory
1.6
management - - - -
8%
 Demonstrate skills in
product labeling,
packaging, improving
inventory
 Appreciate importance
of linkage between ICT
and Logistic operation
Livestoc 3 Understand  To enable to 6.75
k Value concepts of understand the 2.2 %
Chain livestock value livestock and livestock 5%
Manage chain function under different
ment management in livestock production
(6.75%) identifying system
leverage area of  Acquire skill and
technical and knowledge helps them
policy to identify challenges
intervention 2.2
and opportunities along 2.25%
5%
the livestock value
chain
 Assess the economic
feasibility, social
acceptability and
environmental
friendliness of
livestock products
value addition
Crop 3 Understand  Apply the basic principles - 2.2 6.75
Value concepts of of processing crop - 5% %
Chain value addition products to value added
Manage and value chain food commodities
ment analysis of  Improving producers
(6.75%) major crops capacity in crop value
chain networking, value 2.2
- 2.25% - -
addition and distribution of 5%
margins
 Identify causes of post-
harvest losses and
handling methods of post-
harvest losses in crop
production
Agribusiness Introduct 3 The course is  Understand the concept, - 4.45% - - - - - 2.2 6.67
management ion to designed to distinguish the nature, and 2% %
(20%) Agribusi introduce define the scope of
ness students with Agribusiness.
Manage the concept of  Understand how to
ment Agribusiness, develop strategic plan
(6.67%) and  Students will get the skill
Agribusiness needed to: succeed in
management, business, effectively
the different manage Agribusiness for
legal forms of better productivity and
Agribusiness. business performance.
Farm 3 The course is  Identify various 1.4 - 1.48 1.48 - - - 2.2 6.67
Manage intended to production relations in 8% % % 2% %
ment equip students pursuit of optimal
(33.3%) with basic tools resources combination
used for making that suites specific farm
decisions situation,
on farm  Apply management
management science and economics
contexts and the tools to solve farm related
tools required in problems,.
managing the  Analyse farm business
organization investment opportunities
and for effective farm
operation of a planning,
firm for  Apply farm planning and
continuous budgeting techniques in
profits and farm management
efficiency. decision-making,
Microeco 3 The aim of this  Understand theory of 4.4 - - - - - - 2.2 6.67
nomics course is to demand and supply 5% % %
(33.3%) make students  Understand different
acquainted with types of production
definitions and relationships
basic concepts  Explain market
of structures
Economics
Agribusiness expose students  Understand concepts of - 2.22% 2.22 - - - - 2.2 6.66
marketing Agricultu 3 to the economic marketing and the role % 2% 7%
(20%) ral role of of marking in economic
Marketin marketing and development
g approaches to  Apply different
(33.3%) the study of approaches to capture
agricultural problems of
markets agricultural marketing
 Students will able to
deal with marketing
costs, channels and
marketing margins
Agricultu The course  Understand the - 2.22% - - - - - 4.4 6.67
ral Credit Agricultural concepts of finance, 4%
and Credit and agricultural finance,
Finance Finance is micro finance, credit,
(33.3%) intended to and
familiarize insurance
students with  Prepare, interpret and
the concept of evaluate financial
financial statements;
scenario in the  Make effective
Agricultural financial decision using
sector. the appropriate
financial tools;
Financial 3 Focuses on the - 4.45% - - - - - 2.2 6.67
manage acquisition of  Understand the basic 2% %
ment financial principles and
(33.3%) resources and assumptions in
their effective financial management
utilization in  Understand the concept
running a of financing decisions
business  Make financial
enterprise for planning and forecast
profit, with
special
emphasis on
agribusiness
organizations.
Planning and Agribusi 3 The objective of  Identify the difference - 1.44% 1.44 - - 1. 2.1 6.5
Strategy ness this course is to between policy and % 6%
44 %
Development Policy train strategy
(13%) and professionals  Analyse the impact of %
Strategy with basic agribusiness
(50%) principles and environments on
tools of strategic strategic decisions of
management agribusiness firms
and policy  Conduct SWOT
setting. analysis of
organizations
 Integrate techniques
and principles in
agribusiness policies.

Project 3 Designed to  Understand the concept 6.5 - - - - - - - 6.5

Planning introduce of agricultural projects, % %
and students with their features and their
Analysis the basic role towards national
(50%) concepts of development
agricultural and  Understand the
rural different aspects of
development project preparation and
projects and to analysis identify
make them have different approaches to
an insight into cost-benefit analysis of
the role of agricultural projects;
projects towards  Understanding about
development of the different methods
the country of selecting or
appraising agricultural
projects
 Get an insight into the
project costs and
benefits, project cycle
and sources of idea
about it;
Research in Operatio 3 The purpose of  To enable students - 3.33% - - - - - 3.3 6.67
Agribusiness n the course is to gain knowledge and 3% %
and Value Research provide students skills that allow them
chain (20%) in with the to formulate the real
Agribusi concepts and world problems in
ness tools to help Agribusiness and
(33.3%) them understand Value Chain
the operations Management
research and  To enable students to
mathematical acquire knowledge and
modeling techniques of
methods optimization and apply
in solving problems in
their field of study.
 To equip students with
the skills to implement
and solve models using
QM and Excel
software.
Research 3 The aim of this  Define research and 1.4 - 1.48 - - 1. - 2.2 6.67
methods course is to understand different 8% % 48 2 %
in develop types of research |%
Agribusi students'  Describe and compare
ness and knowledge and different research
Value understanding paradigm based on
Chain of quantitative their methodological
(33.3%) and qualitative strength and weakness
research  Select and apply
methods in research paradigm in
Agribusiness problems in
and Value Agribusiness and Value
Chain Chain
Management.  Construct an effective
data collection tools for
both qualitative and
qualitative research.
Econome 3 The objective is  Understand the main - 1.48% 1.48 - - 1. 2.2 6.67
trics to quantify such goals of econometrics % 48 2% %
(33.3%) relationships and its purpose 2
using available  Develop/ formulate %
data and regression models
statistical based on theory in their
techniques to field of study
interpret and use  Estimate the regression
the resulting model using the real
outcomes. data and interpret the
result
 Understand and Apply
the methodology of
Econometrics for their
research project
8. Share of Competencies (KSA) per Courses / Summery/
Table 4: Share of Competencies (KSA) per Courses
Cr Share of Share of Competencies (in %)
R.No Theme
Course Name Hour Courses Attitud Remark
. s Knowledge Skill
s (%) e
1 Value Value Chain 3 6.75 2.25 2.25 2.25
chain Analysis and
analysi Development
s and Logistics in Value 3 6.75 1.68 3.37 1.68
develop Chain
ment Livestock Value 3 6.75 4.5 2.25 -
Chain Management
Crop Value Chain 3 6.75 4.5 2.25 -
Management
Agribu Introduction to 3 6.67 4.45 2.22 -
siness Agribusiness
Manag Management
ement Farm Management 3 6.67 4.45 2.22
Microeconomics 3 6.67 6.75 -
Agribu Agricultural 3 6.67 4.45 2.22 -
siness Marketing
Marketi Agricultural Credit 3 6.67 2.22 4.45 -
ng and Finance
Financial 3 6.67 4.45 2.22 -
management
Plannin Agribusiness Policy 3 6.5 4.33 2.16 -
g and and Strategy
strategy Project Planning 3 6.5 6.5 - -
develop and Analysis
ment
Researc Operation Research 3 6.67 3.34 3.34 -
h in in Agribusiness
Agribu Research methods 3 6.67 4.45 2.22 -
siness in Agribusiness and
and Value Chain
value Econometrics 3 6.67 4.45 2.22 -
chain
Total (Aggregate) 45 100 62.78 33.39 3.94
9. 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
Agribusiness and Value Chain management program, 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.