technical writing

[smf6824]

Just passed dsst technical writing. Passing score is now 400 not 46

[Leebo]

Checking the DSST website, I didn't see any exams using the old grading system. I clicked on about 10 that I thought hadn't be updated, and they were all updated now.

[topdog98]

Checking the DSST website, I didn't see any exams using the old grading system. I clicked on about 10 that I thought hadn't be updated, and they were all updated now.

Interesting!

I wonder if any of the tests themselves have been updated or if only the grading scale has been changed.

[BGSU_Alum_86]

According to the Technical Data Sheet, there are still several exam titles that are not refreshed -- Business Law II, General Anthropology, Intro to Modern Middle East, Money & Banking, Physical Geology, Principles of Financial Accounting, Rise & Fall of Soviet Union, and Western Europe Since 1945. Probably won't be too much longer before all of them are done and have a consistent passing score of 400.

[topdog98]

According to the Technical Data Sheet, there are still several exam titles that are not refreshed -- Business Law II, General Anthropology, Intro to Modern Middle East, Money & Banking, Physical Geology, Principles of Financial Accounting, Rise & Fall of Soviet Union, and Western Europe Since 1945. Probably won't be too much longer before all of them are done and have a consistent passing score of 400.

If you look at the fact sheet for each of those tests mentioned above, it states that the minimum score is 400.

[sumjeff]

Does anyone know if the new/updated grading format will also change how the tests are graded, meaning will it now be easier or harder to pass an exam? Or is a 400 now exactly the same as a 45 before?

[smf6824]

"Does anyone know if the new/updated grading format will also change how the tests are graded, meaning will it now be easier or harder to pass an exam? Or is a 400 now exactly the same as a 45 before?"

@ sumjeff:

I am not sure if it is easier or harder, since this is the first one I have taken; however, the material on the exam was slightly different from the study material I was using. I was using the Peasrson Master The DSST books from the DOD/MWR website and the practice exams associated with that. In general it really wasn't a difficult test. I only studied for a couple hours every other day for about a week and a half. I figured it was an easier option than the TECEP for technical writing. Now I must decide if I want to do straighterline for my ethics and diversity requirement or use DSST exams for that.

[Westerner]

Oh wow. Interesting development...

[BGSU_Alum_86]

Sorry to go back to the whole old vs refreshed portion of this thread. But I just seated a candidate taking the General Anthro exam and the stated passing score was NOT 400. If the fact sheet for this exam says 400 it is not valid as of yet.

[Leebo]

I asked Excelsior and they confirmed that they will not be assigning grades for any DSST exams due to the change. I guess they'll just wait til next year to update the online documentation that lists grade equivalency scores for DSST exams.