Content Breakdown
All A*S*K exams are based on industry-validated performance indicators. Performance indicators are organized into broad content areas and assigned to one of six planning levels:
| Prerequisite (PQ) | Content develops employability and job-survival skills and concepts, including work ethics, personal appearance, and general business behavior. |
| Career-Sustaining (CS) | Content develops skills and knowledge needed for continued employment in or study of business based on the application of basic academics and business skills. |
| Specialist (SP) | Content provides in-depth, solid understanding and skill development in all business functions. |
| Supervisor (SU) | Content provides the same in-depth, solid understanding and skill development in all business functions as in the specialist curriculum, and in addition, incorporates content that addresses the supervision of people. |
| Manager (MN) | Content develops strategic decision-making skills in all business functions needed to manage a business or department within an organization. |
| Owner (ON) | Content develops strategic decision-making skills in all aspects of business that are needed to own and operate a business. |
Each performance indicator is assigned to one of six curriculum-planning levels that represent a continuum of instruction ranging from simple to complex. The levels can serve as building blocks for curriculum development in that students should know and be able to perform the performance indicators at one level before tackling more complex skills and knowledge at the next level. The levels can also be used as the basis for developing an unduplicated sequence of instruction for articulation between high school and postsecondary business courses.
Specific exam questions are aligned with Bloom’s taxonomy to help ensure that each exam addresses critical performance issues appropriate to industry standards.
All specifications outlined below are estimates. Specific exam content changes frequently and without notice on the basis of continuing item analysis, content validations, and other variables. These specifications are for general information only.
Content Focus
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Fundamental Business Concepts Level: Career-Sustaining* Questions: 100 multiple-choice Content specifications (projected, approximate percentages): Business Law: 4% *Questions may address performance indicators at this level and lower level(s). |
Fundamental Marketing Concepts
Level: Career-Sustaining* Questions: 100 multiple-choice Content specifications (projected, approximate percentages): Marketing: 6% *Questions may address performance indicators at this level and lower level(s).
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Concepts of Finance Level: Specialist* Questions: 125 multiple-choice Content specifications (projected, approximate percentages): Business Law: 2% *Questions may address performance indicators at this level and lower level(s). |
Entrepreneurship Questions: 100 multiple-choice Content specifications (projected, approximate percentages): Business Law: 2% *Questions may address performance indicators at this level and lower level(s). |
Performance Indicators and Level Descriptions
Performance indicators for Fundamental Business Concepts Performance indicators for Fundamental Marketing Concepts Performance indicators for Concepts of FinancePerformance indicators for Concepts of Entrepreneurship and Management
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