DSST: Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union

[ChrisM]

I took the Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union today.

Questions on the test not here in early days:

Who founded the Russian Social Dem?

Why did the Bol and Mev split? The choices on the test made this one hard.

Something about Alex III and some religious figure’s influence on policy.

[ShotoJuku]

[SIZE="3"]Hi Chris - Thanks for the insights. I will be taking this one towards the end of April. What study/prep materials did you use? Thanks again!![/SIZE]

[ChrisM]

The test is 100 questions about 15 on early years, 15 on Lenin years, 30 on Stalin years, 6 on Khrushchev, 2 on Brezhnev, and 10 Gorbachev.

I used:

Wikipedia Soviet Union/History
J 947.08 Ing Russia and the USSR, 1905-1991 (Children’s book but highlights many key points)
321.9 Mal The Soviet Tragedy: A History of Socialism in Russia, 1917-1991 (Excellent book but I only made it to 120 pages)

This was good enough for… I tell you when I get my grade..

They asked for a couple of famous Russian authors and defectors not mentioned in my studying.

I don't remember any question predating 1898 about Georgi exept for one about Alexander III mentioned above.

Also some other key notes…

Khrushchev prevailed, becoming party leader on September 7 of that year, and his main rival, NKVD chief Lavrenty Beria, was executed in December. Know the other names? (if any)

June 22 - World War II: Germany attacks the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa

Leonid Brezhnev established himself in the early 1970s as the preeminent figure in Soviet political life. Brezhnev presided over a period of DÃtente with the West while at the same time building up Soviet military strength; the arms buildup contributed to the demise of DÃtente in the late 1970s. Another contributing factor was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979.

Mikhail Gorbachev made significant changes in the economy (see Perestroika) and the party leadership. His policy of glasnost freed public access to information after decades of government regulations.

Know the dates each person ruled from and to… this will help keep a time frame in mind. I don’t recall on actually question on it.

[ShotoJuku]

[SIZE="3"]Thanks Chris for ALL of the INFO, I'm sure that you PASSED!![/SIZE]

[RBOWMAN]

After taking the DSST Drug and Alcohol Abuse exam yesterday ..and feeling confident about passing it, the next challenge is Russia. Iam looking forward to conquering the Russian Empire test and from there onto the Civil War Reconstruction Period. I am feeling quite military , or at least I better be, if Iam going to be passing these final few tests and go onto the wars of math and science.

[ChrisM]

Well my adivice is don't worry so much about the Russian Empire as the Soviet Union.

[lspahn]

I had significgant material from pre-soviet russia. All the way back to the 1890s, some of the Japanese-Russian war, and all that fun stuff.

I had more material on this than Gorbachev to put in in perspective, and the prep sheet said nothing of it.

Hope that helps..

[RBOWMAN]

For those of you who have taken the rise and fall of the Soviet Union test, do you think it is possible to pass this test using only Instantcert?

[ShotoJuku]

For those of you who have taken the rise and fall of the Soviet Union test, do you think it is possible to pass this test using only Instantcert?

[SIZE="3"]Good question RBOWMAN......Any thoughts from those who have sat the exam? I'm taking it this Monday - 4/17.[/SIZE]

[libartsmgr]

[SIZE="3"]Good question RBOWMAN......Any thoughts from those who have sat the exam? I'm taking it this Monday - 4/17.[/SIZE]

I'm taking it the same day. Thanks Shoto, for reviving this thread, I knew this one was in there somewhere but hadn't found it yet.

It seems that the common thread is that there's more on 19th century stuff and earlier than expected... for those who took it, would you agree?