DSST Test Day: Complete Guide

About DSST Exams

DSST (formerly DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) exams are credit-by-examination tests that allow you to earn college credit for knowledge you've acquired through independent study, work experience, military training, or other life experiences. Originally developed for military service members through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program, DSST exams are now available to everyone and accepted by over 1,900 colleges and universities nationwide.

There are currently over 30 DSST exams available across a variety of subjects including business, humanities, mathematics, science, social sciences, and technology. Each exam is designed to measure knowledge equivalent to a lower-level undergraduate college course. Passing a DSST exam typically earns you 3 semester hours of credit, though some institutions may award more or less depending on their policies.

DSST exams are administered at Prometric testing centers worldwide, as well as at participating military installations for eligible service members and their families. The computerized format allows for immediate unofficial score reporting for most exams, so you know how you did before leaving the testing center.

Before Test Day

Proper preparation for DSST test day starts before you arrive at the Prometric testing center. Taking care of logistics in advance allows you to arrive calm, focused, and ready to perform at your best. The night before and morning of your exam are particularly important for setting yourself up for success.

Scheduling Your DSST Exam

DSST exams are scheduled through Prometric, which operates testing centers throughout the United States and internationally. You can find a testing center and schedule your exam through the Prometric website or by calling their customer service line. Most testing centers accept appointments, and scheduling at least a week in advance is recommended, though popular times and locations may require booking further ahead.

When choosing your exam time, consider when you perform best mentally. If you're naturally alert in the morning, schedule an early appointment. If you need time to fully wake up and get your brain functioning, an afternoon slot might be better. Also factor in commute time, parking availability, and any other logistics specific to your chosen testing center location.

Prometric centers are typically located in commercial office buildings or business parks. Call ahead to confirm the exact location, parking options, and any building access procedures. Some locations require signing in at a lobby desk or have specific elevator access requirements. Knowing these details in advance prevents test-day confusion and stress.

The Night Before Your Exam

The evening before your DSST exam, focus on rest and relaxation rather than intensive studying. Last-minute cramming is rarely effective and often increases anxiety without improving actual performance. Your brain needs sleep to consolidate memories and function optimally during testing, so prioritize getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep.

Prepare everything you need to bring to the testing center the night before. Lay out your identification, check that you have your appointment confirmation, and plan your route to the testing center including parking considerations. Having everything organized eliminates morning stress and last-minute scrambling. Double-check that your ID is valid and not expired.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol in the evening, as both can disrupt sleep quality. Light exercise during the day can help reduce anxiety and promote better sleep, but avoid intense workouts close to bedtime. Consider a relaxing activity like reading or light stretching before bed to help calm your mind.

Morning of the Exam

Wake up with enough time to follow your normal morning routine without rushing. Eat a balanced breakfast that includes protein and complex carbohydrates to maintain stable energy levels throughout the two-hour exam. Good choices include eggs with whole-grain toast, oatmeal with nuts, or Greek yogurt with fruit. Avoid heavy, greasy foods that might make you feel sluggish or cause digestive discomfort during testing.

Moderate caffeine consumption is fine if you're used to it, but avoid drinking more than your normal amount. Excessive caffeine can increase anxiety, cause jitters, and make it harder to concentrate. Stay hydrated but be mindful of timing, since you'll want to use the restroom before the exam begins.

Plan to arrive at the Prometric testing center 15-30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. This buffer allows for check-in procedures, unexpected delays, and time to settle your nerves. Prometric has strict policies about late arrivals, and showing up after your appointment time may result in being turned away and forfeiting your exam fee.

What to Bring

Prometric testing centers have strict requirements about what you can and cannot bring to your DSST exam. Arriving with improper identification or prohibited items can result in being turned away and losing your exam fee. Review these requirements carefully and prepare everything the night before.

Identification Requirements

Prometric requires two forms of identification for DSST exams. Your primary ID must be government-issued with both a photo and your signature. Acceptable primary IDs include a driver's license, passport, state ID card, military ID, or permanent resident card. The name on your ID must exactly match the name you used when registering for the exam. If there's any discrepancy, you may be denied entry.

Your secondary ID must have either a photo or a signature (it doesn't need both). Credit cards, student IDs, and employment badges commonly serve as secondary identification. Some testing centers may have slightly different requirements, so confirm with your specific location before test day if you have any concerns about your ID documents.

If your name has changed since registration due to marriage or legal name change, bring documentation of the name change such as a marriage certificate or court order. Check that your IDs are not expired, as expired identification will not be accepted. If your ID will expire soon, consider renewing it before your exam date.

Personal Belongings

Prometric testing centers provide secure storage (typically lockers) for personal belongings, but it's best to bring as little as possible. Leave valuable items at home when practical. You will not have access to any personal items during the exam, and while testing centers secure belongings, they are not typically responsible for lost or stolen items.

Dress comfortably in layers, as testing room temperatures can vary significantly. You may be asked to remove jackets or sweaters for inspection during check-in, and you might want to adjust layers during the exam depending on the room temperature. Avoid clothing with excessive pockets or anything that might raise security concerns during the screening process.

Check-In at Prometric

The Prometric check-in process typically takes 15-20 minutes, which is why arriving early is essential. Testing centers follow standardized security procedures to maintain exam integrity and ensure all test-takers are properly verified. Knowing what to expect can help reduce anxiety and ensure a smooth start to your exam.

Testing Environment

DSST exams are administered on computers at Prometric testing centers. The testing environment is designed to be quiet, secure, and consistent for all test-takers. Understanding what the testing room and computer interface look like can help you feel more comfortable and confident on exam day.

The Testing Room

Testing rooms at Prometric centers typically contain multiple computer workstations, often arranged in rows with privacy partitions between them. Other test-takers in the room may be taking completely different exams since Prometric administers tests for many organizations and certifications. The room is monitored both by test administrators and security cameras to ensure testing rules are followed.

Each workstation has a computer, keyboard, mouse, and sometimes a set of headphones if needed. The privacy partitions block your view of neighboring screens and provide a sense of personal space. If ambient noise bothers you, noise-canceling headphones or earplugs are usually available upon request during check-in.

Testing room temperatures can vary considerably. Some rooms run cold while others are warm. Dressing in layers gives you flexibility to adjust. If the temperature is significantly uncomfortable, you can raise your hand to request adjustment, though immediate fixes aren't always possible depending on the building's HVAC system.

Computer Interface

Before your timed exam begins, you'll complete a brief tutorial covering how to navigate the testing software. This untimed tutorial shows you how to move between questions, mark questions for review, use the on-screen tools, and submit your final answers. Take your time with this tutorial, as it doesn't count against your exam time and ensures you're comfortable with the interface.

The interface displays your remaining time, current question number, and navigation controls prominently. You can flag questions to return to later, which is helpful when you want to reconsider your answer or need more time to work through a problem. The review screen shows you which questions you've flagged and which remain unanswered before final submission.

If you experience any technical issues during the exam, such as a frozen screen, unresponsive keyboard, or display problems, raise your hand immediately to alert a test administrator. They can address technical problems and may be able to pause your timer while issues are resolved. Never try to fix technical problems yourself or interact with the computer in ways not covered in the tutorial.

During the Exam

DSST exams consist of 100 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour time limit. This gives you an average of about 1 minute and 12 seconds per question. While some questions will take less time, others require more thought, so effective time management is important for completing all questions.

Time Management Strategies

With 120 minutes for 100 questions, pacing is essential. Don't spend more than 1-2 minutes on any single question during your first pass through the exam. If a question is taking too long, make your best guess, flag it for review, and move on. You can return to flagged questions after completing the rest of the exam.

A recommended approach is to work through the entire exam at a steady pace, answering questions you're confident about immediately and flagging those that require more thought. This ensures you see and attempt all questions, preventing the frustrating situation of running out of time with easy questions left unanswered.

Check your progress periodically against the clock. At the 60-minute mark (halfway point), you should ideally have completed about 50 questions. If you're significantly behind this pace, adjust by spending less time on difficult questions. If you're ahead, you have a comfortable buffer for review time at the end.

Using Scratch Paper

You'll receive scratch paper and pencils for calculations, diagrams, or working through complex problems. Use this paper freely for any notes that help you think through questions. If you run out of scratch paper during the exam, raise your hand and request more. You'll need to return used sheets when receiving new ones.

Getting Help During the Exam

If you need assistance with technical issues, procedural questions, or need more scratch paper, raise your hand to quietly get a test administrator's attention. They cannot help with exam content or clarify question meaning, but they can assist with anything related to the testing environment and procedures.

Breaks

The two-hour DSST exam duration typically doesn't include scheduled breaks. The time limit is continuous once you begin the exam. Understanding how breaks work helps you plan accordingly and avoid unnecessary time loss.

Unscheduled Breaks

If you absolutely must take a break during the exam to use the restroom, raise your hand to notify a test administrator. They will escort you out and back for security purposes. Your exam timer continues running during any unscheduled breaks, so this time directly reduces your available testing time. Use breaks only when truly necessary.

During an unscheduled break, you cannot access any personal items, notes, or electronic devices. The test administrator ensures you don't have contact with anything that could compromise exam integrity. You may need to go through partial security screening again when returning to your workstation.

Minimizing Break Need

The best strategy is avoiding the need for breaks altogether. Use the restroom before starting the check-in process. Stay hydrated leading up to the exam but moderate fluid intake in the hour before your appointment. Being comfortable from the start allows you to maintain focus for the full two hours without interruption.

After the Exam

Once you've reviewed your answers and are ready to submit, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the exam. After submission, you'll immediately find out how you did since DSST provides instant unofficial scores for most exams.

Immediate Score Report

After submitting your exam, you'll see your unofficial score displayed on the computer screen. DSST scores range from 200 to 500, with most institutions requiring a score of 400 or higher for credit. The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends a minimum passing score for each exam, which most colleges follow when awarding credit.

You'll receive a printed score report before leaving the testing center. This unofficial report shows your score and the passing threshold. Keep this report for your records, though it is not the official transcript schools will accept for credit.

Official Transcripts

Official DSST transcripts must be ordered separately through Prometric or the DSST website and sent directly to your institution(s) of choice. There is typically a fee for each transcript sent. Official transcripts are processed and mailed within 2-3 weeks of your exam date. Many colleges require official transcripts before awarding credit, so plan accordingly.

You can send your DSST scores to multiple institutions, though each requires a separate transcript request and fee. If you're applying to several schools or haven't yet decided where you'll attend, you might want to wait until you have a clearer picture before ordering transcripts.

Military Testing Options

DSST exams have strong ties to the military education community. The program originated through DANTES to help service members earn college credit for knowledge gained through military training and experience. Active duty military members, National Guard, and Reserves have special testing benefits and options.

Free Exams for Military

Active duty military members can take DSST exams for free through the DANTES program. The exam fee is fully funded, making this an excellent way for service members to earn college credit without personal expense. Eligible military members should coordinate through their Education Center to access this benefit.

Some military family members may also qualify for reduced-cost or free testing depending on current DANTES funding policies. Veterans who have separated from active duty typically must pay the civilian exam fee, though some veteran benefit programs may offer assistance.

Testing at Military Installations

DSST exams are administered at Education Centers on military installations worldwide. This option is often more convenient for service members than traveling to a civilian Prometric center. Testing procedures are similar to civilian centers, though scheduling is coordinated through the Education Center rather than Prometric directly.

Military installation testing may have different availability than civilian centers depending on the base's resources and schedule. Contact your Education Center well in advance to understand their scheduling process and availability. Some installations have testing available daily while others offer limited appointment times.

Retake Policy

If you don't pass your DSST exam on the first attempt, you can retake it. Many test-takers pass on their second attempt after additional focused preparation. Understanding the retake rules helps you plan effectively if your first attempt doesn't achieve your desired score.

Preparing for a Retake

If you didn't pass, use the 30-day waiting period strategically for targeted preparation. Review the exam content outline and honestly assess which topics gave you the most difficulty. Focus your study time on these weak areas rather than reviewing material you already know well.

Consider what contributed to the unsuccessful attempt. Was it insufficient content knowledge, poor time management, test anxiety, or some combination? Each factor requires a different remedy. Content gaps need more study; time management issues need practice under timed conditions; anxiety benefits from relaxation techniques and increased familiarity with the testing process.

Many test-takers find that the experience of their first attempt, even if unsuccessful, reduces anxiety for subsequent attempts. The testing environment is no longer unfamiliar, and you have better insight into the actual exam format and difficulty level. Use this experiential knowledge to guide your preparation approach for round two.