Is the DSST Computing and IT Prep Course Worth $19?

The DSST Computing and IT prep course can be worth $19, but not for every student. If you only need a focused review, the $5 study guide may be enough.

If you want lessons and quizzes that walk you through the exam topics, the course gives you more structure for $14 more. You also have a free practice test, plus DSST plans if you expect to study for more than one exam. This post compares those choices using the exact prices and features, so you can spend the least amount that still matches how you study.

What you get for $5, $19, or free

Start with the table below. It shows the fastest way to compare cost and format.

Here is the short version. The $5 printable guide is a 36-page PDF you can download right away. It covers one chapter per official content area, ordered from the heaviest-weighted topics first. It includes 184 key terms, 42 practice questions with explanations, common exam traps, a 2-page cram sheet, and 2-, 4-, and 8-week study plans built from the exam weights. You can also try 10 sample questions on the guide page before buying.

The $19 prep course gives you a different kind of help. You get 13 chapters, 122 lessons, and 39 quizzes, with a quiz after every subchapter. You also keep lifetime access.

The free practice test has 25 original questions that follow the official exam outline, and every answer has an explanation.

So the real choice is not just price. It is format. If you learn well from a short PDF and want the lowest cost, $5 is hard to beat. If you want to be taught in smaller steps and check yourself often, the extra $14 for the course can make sense.

When the $5 study guide is enough

The $5 guide is the best deal when you do not need a long, lesson-by-lesson walkthrough. That usually means one of three things.

First, you already know some of the exam topics. This exam covers Computer Organization and Hardware, 17%, Systems Software, 10%, Application Software, 22%, Data Communications and Networks, 19%, Software Development, 21%, and Social Impact and History, 11%. If much of that looks familiar from work, class, or past study, a lean review can be enough.

Second, you like to study from paper or a simple PDF. The guide is printable, and its layout is built for quick review. Since the chapters start with the heaviest-weighted areas, you can put your time where more of the exam sits. That matters when your test date is close.

Third, you want a low-cost way to check fit before spending more. The guide page includes 10 sample questions, so you can see the style first. If that looks right for you, the $5 study guide is a small buy with a lot packed in.

A good rule: if you mostly need a review tool, not a teaching tool, choose the guide. At $5 one time, it is also easy to pair with the free practice test and still spend less than the course. Just remember that prep helps you get ready, but credit is always your college's decision.

When the DSST Computing and IT prep course is worth $19

The DSST Computing and IT prep course is worth $19 when you need more teaching, more checkpoints, and more time inside the material.

The biggest reason to choose it is structure. Instead of one PDF, you get 13 chapters, 122 lessons, and 39 quizzes. There is a quiz after every subchapter, so you do not have to wait until the end to find out what you missed. If you lose focus with long reading, this setup can help you keep moving.

It also makes sense if the exam topics are not evenly strong for you. Application Software is 22% of the exam, Software Development is 21%, and Data Communications and Networks is 19%. Those three areas alone make up a large share of what you will see. If you know you are weak in one or more of those, the extra step-by-step practice in the $19 prep course may be worth the extra $14 over the guide.

The course is also a better fit if your study style is, teach me first, then test me. The guide explains and reviews. The course slows that process down into smaller parts.

One more point: the price is paid once, and access is for life. That does not promise any score, but it does mean you can study now, test when ready, and still come back later if you need to review before a retest. DSST exams are given year-round, and you can retest after a 30-day wait.

When a DSST plan costs less than buying one exam prep item

Plans start to make sense when this is not your only DSST exam. The full list is on the plans and pricing page, and you can browse all DSST subjects on the DSST prep hub page.

Here is the math that matters. One guide plus one course for this exam is $24. That is still the cheapest paid option if this is the only DSST you plan to prep for.

But the DSST Monthly plan is $29 a month. It includes all 8 DSST prep courses and all 38 DSST study guides. The DSST Semester plan is $69 for 4 months, with the same DSST access. If you think you will use materials for several DSST exams over a few months, a plan can cost less than buying multiple items one by one.

The bigger plans are broader. CLEP + DSST Lifetime is $149 once and includes 23 CLEP + 8 DSST prep courses and all 72 CLEP and DSST study guides, for life. All-Access is $455 once, list price $700, launch discount applied at checkout, and includes every CLEP and DSST prep course, 36 AP prep courses and every AP, CLEP and DSST study guide, for life.

The plan also includes UPI Study's 90+ ACE and NCCRS courses.

Keep one limit in mind. Plans cover prep only. The DSST exam itself costs $100, plus any fee the test center charges, and that is paid separately when you register.

A simple way to choose your best option

If you are still stuck, use this short decision rule.

Choose the free option first if you are not even sure you need paid prep. The free practice test gives you 25 original questions with explanations. It is a fast way to see how comfortable you are with the outline.

Choose the guide if your result from that practice feels like, I know a lot of this, I just need an organized review. The guide is also smart if you have a short timeline and want to focus first on the heavier areas: Application Software at 22%, Software Development at 21%, and Data Communications and Networks at 19%. The 2-page cram sheet helps near test day.

Choose the course if your result feels more like, I need this broken down and taught to me. That is where the 122 lessons and 39 quizzes help most. The DSST Computing and IT prep course is not just more content. It is more checkpoints, which can matter if you forget what you read unless you practice right away.

Choose a plan if this exam is one of several. At that point, compare your likely total against the plan prices instead of looking at one product alone.

Last, if college credit is your goal, check your school's policy first. Each college sets its own DSST credit policy, though 1,900+ colleges accept DSST.

Frequently Asked Questions about DSST IT Prep

Final Thoughts on DSST IT Prep

If you want the lowest-cost paid option, start with the $5 study guide. If you want lessons and quizzes that teach as you go, the $19 prep course is the better fit. If you may prep for several DSST exams, compare those two against a plan before you buy. Your next step is simple: take the free practice test, then choose the guide, the course, or a plan based on how much structure you actually need.