What This Exam Covers
The Computing and Information Technology DSST exam covers six areas: computer hardware, systems and application software, data communications and networks, software development, and the social and legal history of computing.
No programming experience is required, but a lot of concepts and terminology need to be memorized. The 2024 revision added artificial intelligence, which includes neural networks, machine learning, and large language models.
Exam at a Glance
| Questions | 100 multiple choice |
| Time | 120 minutes |
| Passing score | 400 (scaled score) |
| College credits | 3 semester hours (lower-level) |
| Exam fee | $100 (military free) |
| Calculator | Non-programmable calculator permitted |
What's on the Computing and Information Technology DSST / DANTES*?
| Category | Weight | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Application Software | 22% | Word processing (Word, Google Docs, Pages) and desktop publishing; spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers — charts, graphs, functions); presentation software (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote); electronic communications (email, chat, conferencing, social media); graphics (draw, CAD, image processing); business application software (inventory management, accounting, collaboration tools) |
| Software Development | 21% | Software development life cycle (planning, analysis, design, development, debugging, testing, maintenance); programming paradigms (procedural, object-oriented, Low-Code/No-Code); software development tools (assemblers, debuggers, compilers, interpreters); databases (fields, records, files, relational, hierarchical, object, data access mechanisms); artificial intelligence (neural networks, machine learning, large language models) |
| Data Communications and Networks | 19% | The Internet (browsers, web pages, search engines, ISPs); network architectures (LAN, WAN, peer-to-peer, topology, cloud infrastructure); protocols (HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SSH, SSL, TLS, TCP); safety and security (firewalls, IDS/IPS, encryption, identity and access management, VPN); mobile networks (wireless, cellular) |
| Computer Organization and Hardware | 17% | Processing components (CPU, fetch/execute cycle); primary storage (RAM, ROM, virtual memory); peripherals (secondary storage, I/O devices, RFID, biometrics, printers, scanners, communication hardware); platforms (PCs, workstations, mainframes, mobile devices); data representation (binary, hexadecimal, coding systems, graphic and multimedia formats); units of measurement (KB, MB, GB, TB, MHz, GHz, microseconds, nanoseconds, bandwidth) |
| Social Impact and History | 11% | History of hardware, software, and the Internet; ethical and legal issues (privacy concerns, intellectual property, telecommunications law, accessibility, AI); safety and security (hacking, malware, system access, identity theft); social issues (social media etiquette professionally and personally, globalization, development of social skills) |
| Systems Software | 10% | Operating systems (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Unix); features and functions (resource allocation, job scheduling, file management, virtual computing); utilities (virus protection, backup, disk maintenance and recovery); user interfaces (command line, menu-driven, graphical, voice, touch, gesture, VR, AR) |
Source: DSST / DANTES Computing and Information Technology exam fact sheet.
How hard is the Computing and Information Technology DSST / DANTES*?
This is one of the easier DSST exams, especially for those who grew up with computers.
Our students have a 98% pass rate, which is among the highest pass rates for any subject.
If you work with computers regularly, the hardware and networking sections will feel familiar right away. Plan a week of study to fill gaps and learn missing terminology.
Starting cold, plan for 4 to 6 weeks concentrating on the Software Development section, as that covers 21% of the exam.
How to study for the Computing and Information Technology DSST / DANTES*
- Work through the InstantCert flashcards section by section. The Software Development and Networks sections have a lot of terminology which may be new to many students. Pay close attention to database types (relational, hierarchical, object) and network protocols (HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SSH, TCP) as these come up repeatedly and are easy to confuse.
- Use the official DSST free practice questions.
- Know your data storage units: bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and the conversion relationships between them. You will usually see at least a question or two on this. Also learn megahertz and gigahertz for processor speed.
What score do you need to pass?
A score of 400 is the standard passing threshold at most institutions.
ACE recommends this exam as 3 lower-level baccalaureate semester hours, equivalent to Introduction to Computer and Information Technology.
Credit typically applies toward a computer science, information systems, or general education technology requirement. Check with your school on how the credit counts before you start to study.
Pass and the credit appears on your transcript with no letter grade. Fail and the attempt does NOT appear on your transcript at all.
Can you pass Computing and Information Technology DSST / DANTES* with just flashcards?
Yes, this is an exam you can exclusively use our flashcards for and pass with no problem.
The content is heavily terminology and concept-based, which works well with flashcards.
991 out of 1,009 students who submitted results passed, a 98% pass rate (last updated 2026). That is among the highest of any exam prep we offer.
Which colleges accept the Computing and Information Technology DSST / DANTES*?
Most colleges and universities accept DSST credit. ACE recommends this exam at the lower-level baccalaureate level for 3 semester hours, typically satisfying a computer science, information systems, or general education technology requirement.
Each institution sets its own policies on score cutoffs, how DSST credits apply, and how many test-out credits count toward a degree. Confirm with your registrar before you start studying.
Computing and Information Technology DSST / DANTES* vs. taking the class
Intro computing is one of the more common gen-ed requirements, and one of the better candidates for testing out of because you probably know a lot of it.
| Exam fee | $100 (military free) |
| Typical tuition equivalent | $700–$3,000+ (one semester) |
| Credits earned | 3 semester hours (lower-level) |
| Time to prepare | 2–5 weeks self-study |
| GPA impact | None, pass/fail only |
| Failed attempt on transcript | No |
If you just need the credit, this exam can save you a lot of time and money. Many people will find sitting in a class for this subject quite boring. If you're completely new to technology, it may be a good idea to take the class, but even then, you might be better off just testing out of this one.
Happy testing!