DSST Computing and IT

It is a DSST exam in the Business category at the 3 Baccalaureate level. DSST states the exam was developed to enable schools to award credit to students for knowledge equivalent to that learned by students taking the course. It is multiple choice and is taken at an authorized testing center, mostly on college campuses.

DSST states that test takers are given two hours to take the 100 question exam. That works out to roughly 72 seconds per question, so keep moving. Flag anything that requires long calculation or careful rereading and return to it only after you have answered the rest.

The published minimum score is 400. DSST reports scores on its own scale, so 400 is not a percentage and you should not convert it into a raw number of correct answers. Your school decides whether and how it applies the score toward credit, so confirm acceptance with an advisor.

The published description lists hardware, software licensing and development tools, development life cycles, data management, connectivity, privacy concerns, intellectual property, telecommunications law, network etiquette, artificial intelligence, and globalization. The scope is broad rather than deep, so expect terminology, distinctions between similar concepts, and applied judgment about legal and ethical scenarios.

The test fee is $100 per exam, and DSST notes this fee does not include any administrative costs the testing site may require. Registration and payment are completed at the testing center within the testing platform on the day of the exam. You cannot register online in advance, so contact your chosen center about scheduling first.

Yes. DSST states that all test takers are eligible to retest after a 30 day wait period. Eligible military students should note that DANTES only funds the first attempt to pass an exam; any subsequent attempts to pass a failed exam are the test taker's responsibility. Plan your first attempt carefully.

Start with the topic list in the official description, since the exam was built around it. Front-load the areas where you have no background, such as telecommunications law, intellectual property, or privacy concepts if you come from a purely technical role. Technical readers often underestimate these policy topics, and non-technical readers underestimate hardware and connectivity.

The usual cause is uneven coverage: candidates master hardware and networking but skip the legal, ethical, and globalization material, or the reverse. Another common problem is misreading multiple-choice stems that ask for the exception or the least appropriate option. Practice on mixed question sets so you switch topic areas frequently.

DSST maintains a searchable list of schools that accept its exams, and you should consult your advisor to be sure the exam fits your curriculum needs and will be accepted. If your school is not listed, contact your academic advisor or admissions officer. Provide your institution's four-digit DSST code on test day so official scores reach the school.

Exam results are available to the test taker immediately after internet-based exams are taken, and test takers may log in to the testing platform to review and reprint the score report. For paper-based exams, scores are mailed. Schools should receive score reports within 90 days of the test date.