DSST® Technical Writing Prep — Pass the Exam and Earn 3 Transferable College Credits
DSST® Technical
Writing
A writing credit with no writing required. Despite the name, this exam is 100% multiple choice, no essay. It tests what you know about technical documents, design, and editing rather than asking you to write one. 100 questions in 2 hours. Earn 3 transferable credits for $119 total.
A Third of the Exam Is Editing.
Technical Writing is weighted toward fixing and polishing, not producing from scratch. Here's exactly how the five content areas break down, drawn straight from the official outline.
Revising and editing is the single biggest area.
A full third of questions are about improving documents: revising for completeness, concision, organization, and clarity; editing for grammar and technical accuracy; and the final sections that wrap a document, like cover letters, executive summaries, and abstracts.
It's a writing exam with no writing.
This trips a lot of people up: DSST® Technical Writing never asks you to write a document. Every one of the 100 questions is multiple choice. You identify the right report type, spot the editing fix, choose the clearer sentence, pick the correct design choice. If essays make you nervous, this is the writing credit for you.
What You'll Learn
All five DSST® Technical Writing content areas in structured chapters — weighted toward the editing and document-type material that dominates the exam.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Revise and edit technical documents for completeness, concision, clarity, organization, grammatical accuracy, and technical accuracy — the largest area on the exam
- Identify the purpose and structure of common technical documents — progress and feasibility reports, instructions, proposals, white papers, and grants
- Apply document design principles — page, text, and illustration formatting, and strategies for readability, usability, and accessibility
- Explain the theory and practice of technical writing — context, purpose, audience analysis, source reliability, and appropriate style
- Recognize the elements of final sections — cover letters, executive summaries, and abstracts — and how the writing process moves from draft to finished document
Full Topic Coverage
How DSST® Credit Works
Three steps from enrollment to 3 transferable college credits — no campus, no 15-week semester of writing assignments.
Study with TransferCredit
Structured chapters across all five content areas, weighted toward the 33% editing block and the document types. Subchapter quizzes after every section and a readiness tracker tell you exactly when you're ready.
Take the DSST® Exam
Book at any Prometric or on-campus DSST® test center. 100 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, no essay, scored 200–500. Score 400+ to earn 3 college credits. Exam fee is $100 (free for eligible military via DANTES).
Transfer Your Credits
Send your DSST® score to your college and have 3 English, communications, or writing credits applied to your degree. Accepted at 1,900+ colleges and universities.
One Price.
Everything Unlocked.
Buy Technical Writing alone for $19 lifetime access, get all DSST® subjects for $29/month, or unlock everything — CLEP® + DSST® — for life at $149.
- All 5 content areas covered
- Heavy focus on the 33% editing block
- Subchapter quizzes & readiness tracker
- DSST® official outline aligned
- Lifetime access, no expiry
- All DSST® prep courses
- Chapter + subchapter structure
- Readiness quizzes per topic
- Backup ACE/NCCRS credit path
- Cancel or pause anytime
- Lifetime access to all CLEP® + DSST® subjects
- All current & future courses
- 12-month ACE/NCCRS backup path
- Pay once, never renew
- Best long-term investment
All plans include a backup ACE/NCCRS credit path — if you don't pass the DSST® exam, you still earn the credit through coursework.
Questions? [email protected] · View all pricing →
Does My College Accept DSST® Technical Writing?
DSST® exams are accepted at 1,900+ colleges and universities. Technical Writing typically satisfies an English, communications, or writing requirement, and is especially common in business, engineering, IT, and technical degree programs. Score 400+ (on the 200–500 scale) and most schools award 3 semester credit hours.
Students Also Prep For
Stack DSST® writing and communications credits to clear multiple requirements with one $29/month subscription.
Pass DSST® Technical Writing and earn 3 credits for $119 total.
$19 prep + $100 exam. 3 college credits. A writing requirement with no writing — 100% multiple choice. Weighted toward editing and document types, which makes it very studiable for a writing exam.
🎯 Why It Matters
- No essay — 100% multiple choice, unusual for a writing exam
- Revising and editing is 33% of the exam, the single largest area
- Satisfies an English, communications, or writing requirement
- Common in business, engineering, and IT degree programs
👤 Who Takes This Exam
- Students avoiding an essay-heavy writing class
- Engineering, IT, and business majors needing a writing credit
- Working professionals who write reports or documentation
- Active-duty military (exam free via DANTES)
- Anyone who edits and proofreads well
🛡️ The Backup Path
- Didn't pass? Your subscription unlocks the ACE/NCCRS backup course
- Same subject — earn the credit through coursework, no exam
- Accepted at 2,100+ colleges on its own
- Your $19 always results in real, transferable college credit
50,000+ Students.
Real Results.
From essay-avoiders to engineers banking a writing credit — here's what TransferCredit students say about DSST® Technical Writing.
TransferCredit DSST® Technical Writing Prep Includes
Common Questions Answered.
Really no essay on a writing exam?
Correct, and it surprises almost everyone. DSST® Technical Writing is 100% multiple choice. Instead of writing a report, you answer questions about reports — which type fits a situation, which sentence is clearer, which edit fixes the problem, which design choice improves readability. It tests your judgment about technical writing rather than your ability to produce a document on the spot. For anyone who dreads timed essays, that is a big advantage.
Where should I focus my study time?
The revising and editing area is 33% of the exam, the single largest block, so it earns the most attention. It covers revising for clarity and concision, editing for grammar and accuracy, and the final sections like cover letters, executive summaries, and abstracts. After that, the document types (23%) and document design (18%) are the next priorities. Theory and process round it out.
Does work experience help?
Yes. If you write reports, documentation, proposals, or even careful professional emails, you already use many of these skills. The prep gives that practical experience the formal vocabulary the exam tests — names for document types, design principles, and editing standards. Engineers, IT professionals, and anyone in a documentation-heavy role often find this one very manageable.
How much does this path save me?
The exam is $100. Our prep is $19. Total: $119. A traditional technical writing course costs $300–$1,500+ per credit hour, or $900–$4,500 for 3 credits, and means a semester of graded writing assignments. The DSST® path clears the same requirement in 2–4 weeks with one multiple-choice exam.
Common Questions Answered.
Everything about the DSST® Technical Writing exam, scoring, content areas, and how to earn credit without taking the class.
What is the DSST® Technical Writing exam?
Do I have to write an essay?
What are the 5 content areas?
Why does the revising and editing area matter so much?
How is the DSST® scored?
Is DSST® Technical Writing accepted at my college?
What happens if I don't pass?
How does this compare to taking the class?
Still have questions? Our team responds within hours — not days.
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A writing credit
with no writing.
$19 prep + $100 exam. 3 college credits. 100% multiple choice, no essay. Weighted toward editing and document types. Score 400+. Accepted at 1,900+ colleges.