Vietnam War DSST Advice

[Chebasaz]

Don't sweat your results until you get them. We all have finished up an exam wondering what we had gotten ourselves into.

Personally, I found the Soviet Union DSST to be harder than Vietnam, primarily because at least I had a passing knowledge of Vietnam. Soviet politics and economic program weren't that hard to learn, but the names threw me for a loop sometimes. The Middle East exam was a lot of fun to study for because the material was so interesting, so that made it much easier in my mind.

[corpsole2]

So, I'd like to pivot somewhat. I took the Vietnam War test last week, and am still awaiting the score from Prometric. In the meantime, I have scheduled to take Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union for next Wednesday. I have been hard at it studying and writing all kinds of notes in the last six days, and think I am already fairly familiar with the big concepts of the USSR. I've gone through the IC flashcards once, and the FCP sample tests twice, and improve on every time I take it.

I remember that the Vietnam test proved tough for me because of the way the questions were worded. I think I had to purely guess on a few of them, but because I knew the material, I think I got them right. Is it the same for The Soviet Union? I hear it is a bear of a test, but most manage to pass it just fine.

I know with the way they score it is confusing, so I am trying to figure if I can still get a passing score if I, say, get thirty questions incorrect. I know there isn't a way to tell, but I like to figure these things out.

[Westerner]

The Soviet Union DSST is definitely harder than the Vietnam War one. I didn't think that either was worded too tricky, maybe because there's usually some hint in the question that, if you've studied the subject well, tips you off as to the right answer. If you feel you know the material and if your FCP PT scores are going up, I'd say when you feel ready, go for it. One thing I'd recommend, if you haven't already, is to read bios on the USSR leaders; that helps link together the stuff that happened during their leadership.

[corpsole2]

Westerner,
Thanks. I am reading the bios via Wikipedia. I also borrowed Michael Kort's Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union. I also have five plus pages of notes written down, but I guess I am wondering how in depth some of the questions can go? For instance, one of the questions on the Vietnam War test asked where Vo Nguyen Giap learned his communist ideology. I didn't have a clue, as I only skimmed his bio. I wonder if there are more questions like that on USSR test?

Also, the analytical side of me is trying to determine how they weight questions on the DSST. I figure if I get 97 questions, I should get a passing score even if I get 30 questions wrong. I know that there is no way of knowing this, but I like to figure this out anyway.

I guess I am sweating these upper level tests more than I should, but I really don't want to fail and have to take it again six months from now. I am shooting for the March graduation for my B.A., and I do not want to repeat, so I am trying to ensure that I will pass.

[Westerner]

Westerner,
Thanks. I am reading the bios via Wikipedia. I also borrowed Michael Kort's Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union. I also have five plus pages of notes written down, but I guess I am wondering how in depth some of the questions can go? For instance, one of the questions on the Vietnam War test asked where Vo Nguyen Giap learned his communist ideology. I didn't have a clue, as I only skimmed his bio. I wonder if there are more questions like that on USSR test?

There were a very very few like that, that threw me for a loop. Most were like I described, with some clue hidden inside.

Also, the analytical side of me is trying to determine how they weight questions on the DSST. I figure if I get 97 questions, I should get a passing score even if I get 30 questions wrong. I know that there is no way of knowing this, but I like to figure this out anyway.

I'm not sure at all about this but... What I did was I tried to mark every question I thought I might have a chance of getting wrong, and if that number was around 25, I felt pretty confident of passing with a decent score. That's how I did it, personally. I did this especially with the Modern Middle East, Soviet Union, Vietnam War and Civil War DSSTs, and you can see the scores in my sig. So, there's that, if it helps.

I guess I am sweating these upper level tests more than I should, but I really don't want to fail and have to take it again six months from now. I am shooting for the March graduation for my B.A., and I do not want to repeat, so I am trying to ensure that I will pass.

I know how you feel. But if you prepare well, as it sounds you're doing, you should be fine.

[corpsole2]

I did my third Free Clep Prep practice test for the Soviet Union test. Out of 97 questions, I only got three wrong. I think I am nearly ready now for Wednesday.

I have nearly seven pages of notes I have written, and will review them the morning of the test.

[Westerner]

I did my third Free Clep Prep practice test for the Soviet Union test. Out of 97 questions, I only got three wrong. I think I am nearly ready now for Wednesday.

I have nearly seven pages of notes I have written, and will review them the morning of the test.

Sounds great!

[corpsole2]

I just got back from taking the Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union DSST. Golly, was that sucker HARD! I had 95 questions, and did just like Westerner suggested - I marked the questions I wasn't sure about. At first I had marked about 28 questions, and then when I reviewed the questions at the end, I whittled it down to 24 I am not sure about. I had to purely guess on five, and five were straightforward. The first eight were about pre-revolutionary Russia, about twenty in the Lenin era, and about twenty about the Stalin regime. Three or four were about Socialist Realism. But all in all, I think half the questions were strangely worded where you almost had to guess, and trust your gut that you chose the correct answer.

I would say I am 70% sure I passed, but await the scores in the mail.

[corpsole2]

I still haven't received the score from the Vietnam War test, even though I took it three weeks ago. I expect that it will take the usual three to four weeks after TESC gets it for them to update my transcript, so that is why I am going to push up the test date for my final DSST: Introduction to the Modern Middle East.

I have started studying it, and unlike the Soviet Union, the history of the modern Middle East is fascinating. Now the politics of the region are making sense to me. The Egyptian Revolution of 1952, Arab Nationalism, it all ties into the problems they are having today.

Anywho, I took the FCP practice test (my third) and scored an 89%. I also bought FCP's fabulous study guide. By the way, has anyone found that the material on the practice tests or the study materials match what is on the test? It seemed with the Soviet Union test that I needed a more in depth knowledge than the who did what when. Is this test similar to that? Is it more difficult?

[Westerner]

Good job on finishing Soviet Union!

MME covers a lot of topics and countries, so it doesn't go too in depth. RFSU covers only 1 country, and less than 1 century, so it does go more in depth. Looking back, I felt MME was easier for me than RFSU.