DSST MIS
DSST Management Information Systems
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ExploreAbout this exam
The DSST Management Information Systems exam is a credit-by-examination test in the Business subject category, rated at Level 3 Baccalaureate. Schools that accept DSST scores may award 3 semester hours of college credit to candidates who demonstrate knowledge equivalent to that gained in a college course of the same name. The exam is intended for students who have already acquired MIS knowledge through coursework, self-study, work experience, or military training and who want to convert that knowledge into transcript credit rather than sit through a classroom term. The published topic outline covers telecommunications, network security, systems analysis and design, business decision making, knowledge management, data warehousing, and data mining. The exam is delivered in multiple-choice format, either internet-based or paper-based, with 100 questions in a two-hour window and a minimum scaled score of 400. Preparation should follow the published topic list: confirm that your target institution accepts the exam and knows its four-digit school code, then work through each of the seven content areas in a college-level MIS textbook or equivalent course material, paying attention to definitions, standard frameworks, and the business purpose behind each technology. Practice with timed multiple-choice sets to build speed, since the pacing allows roughly 72 seconds per question. Confirm your test center's scheduling and identification policies before test day.
What you'll study
About DSST MIS preparation
How is the DSST MIS exam delivered and how long do I have?
The exam is offered in internet-based or paper-based multiple-choice formats. You get two hours for 100 questions, about 72 seconds each. Internet-based test takers see results immediately; paper-based scores are mailed. All exams are taken at authorized testing centers, mostly on college campuses, so confirm your center's scheduling rules in advance.
What score do I need to pass?
The published minimum score is 400 on the DSST scale. That is a scaled score, not a raw count of correct answers, so you cannot convert a practice percentage directly. Your accepting institution decides how it applies the score, so confirm its credit-awarding policy before you register.
How much does the exam cost, and are there extra charges?
The test fee is $100 per exam. This does not include any administrative costs the testing site may require, so ask your chosen center about its own fees. Eligible military test takers may have the fee covered through DANTES funding, and veterans should check the VA National Testing Program reimbursement rules.
Can I retake the exam if I do not pass?
Yes. All test takers are eligible to retest after a 30-day wait period. Note that for eligible military students, DANTES funds only the first attempt to pass an exam; any later attempt after a failed exam is the test taker's own responsibility. Plan your first attempt carefully rather than treating it as a diagnostic.
How do I register and pay?
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 through the general DSST site. Contact your chosen center first, because some locations do not allow walk-ins and require you to schedule an appointment.
What identification should I bring?
You must present current, valid picture identification such as a driver's license, passport, or picture student ID. DANTES-funded eligible military test takers must provide a valid Common Access Card. Only test takers are permitted in the testing room, so do not bring guests or unauthorized visitors.
What should I study first, and what trips candidates up?
Work through all seven published areas rather than only the ones you use at work: telecommunications, network security, systems analysis and design, business decision making, knowledge management, data warehousing, and data mining. Common failure modes are skipping the business-decision and knowledge-management material as soft content, and memorizing acronyms without understanding what each technology is for.
How do I make sure my school receives the score?
Provide your institution's four-digit DSST school code at the time of your examination so official scores are sent automatically. Without a code you must order a score report separately. Schools should receive reports within 90 days; check with your school four to six weeks after testing, and verify acceptance before you register.
What can I bring into the testing room?
Reference or study materials, scratch paper, and electronics such as cell phones, handheld devices, cameras, alarm wristwatches, and tape recorders are not allowed. For paper-based exams you may bring No. 2 pencils with an eraser and black ballpoint pens. Bring a calculator only if your exam requires one and it meets the published specifications.