DSST / DANTES Civil War & Reconstruction

[DutchMom]

I have a stupid question about the Civil War & Reconstruction DSST/DANTES test. From the Members Only Forum I've gathered that this test usually has 112 questions on it with a passing score of 47. Does anyone know is that 47% of the entire 112 questions or is it I have to get 47 questions correct out of the whole 112? See, I told you it was a stupid question! Just curious! I'm under a deadline so I'm trying to go by the outline and the other postings to try to figure out what to study for, but I only have a few days to study before I have to take the test. That's the basis of the idiotic question! I just need to know the bare minimum to pass! Thanks!

DutchMom

[Elinor]

I have a stupid question about the Civil War & Reconstruction DSST/DANTES test. From the Members Only Forum I've gathered that this test usually has 112 questions on it with a passing score of 47. Does anyone know is that 47% of the entire 112 questions or is it I have to get 47 questions correct out of the whole 112? See, I told you it was a stupid question! Just curious! I'm under a deadline so I'm trying to go by the outline and the other postings to try to figure out what to study for, but I only have a few days to study before I have to take the test. That's the basis of the idiotic question! I just need to know the bare minimum to pass! Thanks!

DutchMom

If you search the forums for DSST scoring, you'll probably find helpful information. There is a way to figure it out, and it's been discussed, but I don't have time to look it up right now.

47's the passing score, but a perfect score is only 80, not 100, so it's not getting 47% correct. You see? Don't worry too much! It wasn't a bad test.

[DutchMom]

Thanks for the input, but I'm still a little confused. If there are 112 questions on the test, how can 80 be a perfect score? I'm no math whiz, but that doesn't seem to add up just right. I'm thinking when I see 47, that is the number of questions I need to get right out of 112. Anyway, thanks for the input. If anyone else has anything to add it would be most appreciated because this is supposed to be my last 3 credits for my Bach. Degree. I just need enough to pass. I'm not trying to skate out of the hard work, I'm just trying to give my brain a little bit of a rest because, right now, IT"S FRIED!!! I'm also under an extreme deadline which doesn't help matters. Thanks!

DutchMom

[ShotoJuku]

...how can 80 be a perfect score? ...

[SIZE="4"]

Something Else To Know

[/SIZE]

FACT: The lowest possible score is a 20. The highest possible is an 80.

FACT: Approx. 1/2 the questions on the test must be successfully answered to get a 50, or a pass.


THE HYPOTHESIS: In a 100 question test, such as Sociology and many others, there are only 60 possible points (between 20-80) for 100 questions.

60 points divided by 100 questions = .6pts

If each questions is worth .6 points, 50 correct questions = 50q X .6pts = 30pts

You must add 20 since 0 correct questions = 20pts.

30 points + 20 points = 50 points, or a pass.

Now: If each point in a 100 question test is worth .6 points, 100 questions X .6 points = 60; 60 + 20 = 80.

By this formula, answering 75 questions correctly would translate to a score of 65.

[DutchMom]

I hated Math & Statistics, but the way you presented this info it actually makes sense to me. I just need something visual to go by, and you have provided that for me. Thanks very much! Just one more thing, if there are 112 questions on this test, how can a perfect score be only 80? In this particular instance why isn't a perfect score based upon the total number of questions on the test?. I hated to think about how much I can bomb of a test, but since this is hopefully my last test, I just want this entire process over with. I'm exhausted, and I want my life back! I realize that I'm not the only one, but I just needed a smaller more realistic goal so I can hopefully be done very soon! Again, Thanks for the visual!

DutchMom

[ShotoJuku]

[COLOR="Navy"]60/112 = 0.5357142 points per question

Thus answering 112 questions correctly = 60 (59.999)

Plus 20 (minimum score points)

Equals 80[/COLOR]

[COLOR="Red"]So....in order for you to reach the magic score of 47 you must answer "approximately" 51 questions correctly (equals 27.321424) then add the missing 20 (minimum) points and you score a 47.321424.

More often than not many, if not most students will answer "approximately" 65+ questions correctly (65 x 0.5357142 = 36.21423) -PLUS- 20 pts. comes to 56.21423.[/COLOR]

One last thing...the scoring system demonstrated is actually for the CLEP exams (older grading method) but must be somewhat similar to that of the DSST.

[DutchMom]

That makes sense. Again, I just needed a visual! THANKS VERY MUCH!

DutchMom

[DutchMom]

I was going to take a DSST Civil War Practice Test, but there seems to be practice tests for only a few of their subjects. I decided if I was going to be spending $80.00 on a testing fee than another $5.00 being charged on my credit card wouldn't hurt, right? But, I did not see a practice test for the Civil War. Has anyone else run into this problem before? Does anyone know of where I might be able to take another one for this subject? I've tried free-clep-prep.com and they currently do not have one for this subject on their site. The Peterson's website also currently does not have one for this subject either. Any other ideas would be most appreciated! Thanks and have a safe weekend!

DutchMom

[Storyteller]

If you're active military, you can take the tests at Peterson's DOD site.

[DutchMom]

Nope! Not active military or even former military. Thanks anyway though!

DutchMom