Dsst technical writing

[BGSU_Alum_86]

46 is a scaled score. DSST has a good explanation of the difference between their old scaled scoring system and the one for the refreshed exams (where you see a passing score of 400). Unfortunately I cannot find a link on their website to this printed piece of literature (have a good stock on my shelves though). Here is the explanation (if you can understand it):

Norm-Referenced Standard Setting:
Historically, DSST exams have been scored using a "norm referenced" approach to determine the pass/fail point for each exam. Using a norm-referenced approach, a cut-score is set based on judgments about groups of test takers; essentially, it establishes what proportions of each group should pass or fail. Setting a proportion of candidates to pass or fail means that whether you pass or fail is based on how you perform in relation to others within the group. This method is widely used, especially in education, and the DSST exams that have NOT been refreshed continue to use it today.

Criterion-Referenced Standard Setting:
The new scoring model first applied to refreshed exams in 2008 and 2009 is called "criterion-referenced." This method sets cut scores based on judgments about individual test questions or the test as a whole. It determines how many of the test questions must be answered correctly in order to pass. Criterion-referenced scores are based on how much the examinees know, not how they performed against others in the same pool.