DSST Introduction to Geology

It is a DSST Physical Sciences exam listed at Level 3 Baccalaureate and worth 3 Semester Hours. It was developed to let schools award credit for knowledge equivalent to a college course covering rocks, weathering, groundwater, glaciers, oceanic systems, deserts, winds, the hydrologic cycle, internal Earth processes, mineral and energy resources, and environmental geology.

You get two hours to answer 100 multiple-choice questions. That works out to about 1.2 minutes per question, so aim to answer most items in under a minute and leave time to revisit flagged questions. The exam is offered in internet-based and paper-based formats; paper-based scores are mailed rather than shown immediately.

The published minimum score is 400. Whether that score earns credit depends on your institution, so confirm with your advisor that this exam fits your curriculum and is accepted before you register. Score reports go to the institution whose 4-digit DSST code you provide on test day.

The test fee is $100 per exam, and it 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, so there is no online pre-registration. Contact your chosen center first, since some locations require scheduling and do not allow walk-ins.

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 later attempt to pass a failed exam is the test taker's responsibility. Use the waiting period to review weak content areas rather than repeating the same study routine.

It is a broad survey, so difficulty comes from breadth rather than deep calculation. Common failure modes are neglecting surface processes such as groundwater and glaciers while over-studying rocks, confusing metamorphic grade and facies, and misreading plate-boundary settings. Another frequent problem is poor pacing: spending too long on unfamiliar items and running out of time on the final questions.

Start with core knowledge: minerals, the three rock classes, and the rock cycle, since these underpin later topics. Then move to surface processes such as weathering, groundwater, glaciers, deserts, winds, and the hydrologic cycle. Follow with tectonic earth processes, including plate boundaries and internal Earth processes, and finish with applications covering mineral and energy resources and environmental geology.

Practice distinguishing igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks by texture and composition, and linking each to its formation environment. Be ready to interpret features such as grain size, sorting, foliation, and bedding, and to connect them to processes like cooling rate, deposition, compaction, and directed pressure. These relationships appear throughout the core knowledge and applications areas.

All test takers must present current and valid picture identification, such as a driver's license, passport, or picture student identification. DANTES-funded eligible military test takers must provide a valid Common Access Card. Reference or study materials, scratch paper, and electronics such as cell phones are not allowed in the testing room, and unauthorized visitors are not permitted.

Results are available to the test taker immediately after internet-based exams. You can log in to the testing platform to review and reprint your score report. For paper-based exams, scores are mailed. Your designated school should receive the report within 90 days of your test date, so check with the school after 4 to 6 weeks.