The DSST Computing and Information Technology exam is a fast way to earn college credit if you already know basic IT. It is not a coding exam. It is a broad survey of hardware, software, networks, databases, security, systems, and IT management. If you want easy elective credit, this can be a smart move. If you want hands-on technical depth, skip it. The test rewards people who can recognize terms, compare common technologies, and spot the right answer under time pressure. That means a working adult with office tech exposure may do better than a student who only knows apps and passwords. The exam is also cheaper than a typical 3-credit class, which matters if you are trying to finish a degree without paying for a full semester course. The real question is whether your current knowledge is close enough to pass with a short study sprint. If you can already explain what RAM does, what a router does, why backups matter, and how basic security works, you are in the right zone. If those terms still feel fuzzy, you need a plan before you book the test.
DSST Computing FAQ
Is the exam hard? For most students, it is moderate, not brutal. If you know the basics of hardware, networking, security, and databases, 2-3 weeks of focused study is usually enough. If you are starting cold, give yourself 30 days and use practice tests to find gaps.
How long does it take? Test center time is usually around 90 minutes, so plan for a half-day once you include check-in and travel. Use that limit to practice speed: if a question is taking more than 60 seconds, mark it and move on. Time pressure is part of the test.
What score do I need? Use the current ACE-recommended passing score on the live ACE page before you book, because that number can change. If your practice scores are below that line, keep studying. If they are above it twice in a row, schedule the exam and stop overthinking.
Does the credit transfer? Often yes, but only if your college accepts DSST credit for your degree. A school that takes 3 credits from one exam may still reject it for a major requirement, so check your catalog first. A 35-year-old paramedic with 5 hours a week should verify transfer rules before studying, because that avoids wasting a month on the wrong credit.
The Complete Resource for Computing and Information Technology
TransferCredit.org has a full resource page built for computing and information technology — covering CLEP/DSST prep with chapter quizzes and video lessons, plus the ACE/NCCRS-approved backup course if you do not pass the exam. $29/month covers both, and credits transfer to partner colleges.
Browse CLEP DSST Courses →
Frequently Asked Questions about Computing and Information Technology
Most students cram random tech facts, but what works is drilling the exam's main buckets: hardware, software, networking, security, databases, and systems analysis. The DSST Computing and Information Technology exam usually leans on broad IT concepts, not deep coding, so you should study how systems work together, basic troubleshooting, and common business uses.
Start by checking your school's DSST policy and the current ACE-recommended score before you buy prep. Then match that score to your credit goal, because some schools post 3 lower-level credits while others use the exam only as an elective.
If you study like it's a coding test, you'll waste hours and still miss the questions that decide the score. The DSST computing and information technology exam rewards broad coverage and fast recall, so weak spots in networking or security can sink you even if you know basic hardware.
You earn the credit your school posts for the current ACE recommendation, and that usually means lower-level semester hours. Check the live ACE page and your registrar before you test, because schools can post 3 credits, use it as an elective, or reject it for a major requirement.
What surprises most students is how little code the exam asks for. You need to know terms like IP address, cloud storage, malware, and database basics, not build programs from scratch, so a 2-week vocab-heavy review often beats a 6-week programming detour.
This fits you if you need elective credit, transfer credit, or a fast way to show IT literacy; it doesn't fit you if your degree plan needs a lab science, a higher-level CS course, or a school that won't post DSST credit. Active-duty military can test free through DANTES, which changes the cost math fast.
The most common wrong assumption is that a passing score means the same thing everywhere. It doesn't. You need the current ACE score, your school's credit rule, and the exact course match, because one college may award 3 credits while another gives you nothing for the same pass.
At about $100 for the exam fee, DSST costs far less than a 3-credit college class, which often runs hundreds or thousands of dollars before books and fees. If you're not active-duty military, that price gap makes the DSST computing and information technology exam a cheap credit play.
Most students read notes once, but what works is 10 to 14 days of focused drills with daily review. Spend more time on networking, security, and databases than on basic definitions, because those topics tend to separate a close pass from a miss.
Start with one full-length practice test and mark every miss by topic. Then build a 7-day fix list, since a working adult with 5 hours a week needs tight drills, not a vague 30-day plan.
Final Thoughts on Computing and Information Technology
How CLEP credits actually work
Ready to Earn College Credit?
CLEP & DSST prep + ACE/NCCRS backup courses · Self-paced · $29/month covers everything