DSST Criminal Justice

It is a multiple-choice exam offered in internet-based or paper-based format. DSST states that its exams use internet or paper-based, multiple choice formats and must be taken at authorized testing centers, mostly on college campuses. Internet-based test takers see results immediately; paper-based scores are mailed.

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 plan to move steadily and flag anything that needs a second pass rather than stalling on one item.

The minimum score is 400. Note that this is a scaled score, not a raw count of correct answers, so you cannot convert it directly into a percentage. Your score report shows your result, and your designated institution receives the official report.

The test fee is $100 per exam. This fee does not include any administrative costs the testing site may require, so check with your chosen center about additional charges. DSST notes that the VA will reimburse the exam fee and the testing center administrative fee for eligible veterans under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Yes. 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.

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. Locate an authorized center first and contact it before test day, because some locations do not allow walk-ins and require scheduled appointments.

Bring current, valid picture identification such as a driver's license, passport, or picture student ID; DANTES-funded military test takers must present a valid Common Access Card. Reference or study materials, scratch paper, cell phones, handheld devices, cameras, alarm wrist watches, and tape recorders are not allowed. Only test takers may enter the testing room.

The published outline lists criminal behavior, police, the court system, sentencing issues, adult prison systems, and juvenile correction alternatives. Cover all six, because no official weighting is published. A sensible order is criminal behavior first as the conceptual base, then police and courts as process, then sentencing and corrections as outcomes.

Two patterns dominate. First, studying only policing and courts while skipping sentencing and juvenile corrections, which are named exam areas. Second, memorizing labels without being able to apply them to a short scenario. Multiple-choice items often test whether you can match a described situation to the correct doctrine or stage of the process.

Provide your institution's 4-digit DSST school code at the time of your examination; official scores are mailed only to the institution you designate. Some schools require enrollment before accepting a report. Check with your school 4-6 weeks after testing, and confirm acceptance with your advisor before registering.