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- 33-page printable PDF
- 182 terms with examples
- 41 practice questions, answers explained
- 2-page cram sheet and study plans
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DSST® Study Guide
Printable PDF · 33 pages
DSST Ethics in America Study Guide
Everything the DSST Ethics in America exam tests, in one PDF you can print. Built from Prometric's official outline, heaviest topics first.
- 182 key terms, each with an example
- 41 practice questions with every answer explained
- A 2-page cram sheet for the night before
- 2-, 4- and 8-week study plans built from the exam weights
Last updated 2026 · exam details checked against Prometric's published exam information in 2026
Look inside the guide
Real pages from the 33-page PDF.
What you get for $5
One chapter for each official content area, in the order the exam weighs them.
- 📘33pages, printable
- 🧭3chapters, heaviest first
- 🔑182terms with examples
- ✍️41practice questions, answers explained
- ⚠️9exam traps to avoid
- 📄2page cram sheet
Try 10 free Ethics in America questions
In the style of the real exam, from all 3 areas. About 10 minutes, with every answer explained and a score by area.
10 questions
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Question 1 · Ethical Traditions
A woman is tempted to spend her rent money on a lavish dinner. Her reason tells her to pay the rent, while her appetite pulls her toward the restaurant. Which Platonic idea describes this conflict?
Show the answer
Answer: C. The tripartite soul, in which reason should rule appetite. Plato divides the soul into reason, spirit and appetite. Her reason and appetite are pulling apart, and in a just soul reason governs.
The trap: The Ring of Gyges concerns whether people act justly when unobserved. The woman's problem is a split between parts of her own soul.
Plato divides the soul into reason, spirit and appetite. Her reason and appetite are pulling apart, and in a just soul reason governs.
The trap: The Ring of Gyges concerns whether people act justly when unobserved. The woman's problem is a split between parts of her own soul.
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Question 2 · Ethical Analysis of real-world issues
A judge tells a convicted arsonist, 'You will serve this sentence because you earned it, whether or not it ever stops anyone else from setting fires.' Her reasoning is mainly
Show the answer
Answer: B. retributive. She justifies the sentence by what the offender deserves, not by its future effects, which is the retributive view.
The trap: Deterrence is tempting because punishment is involved, but she explicitly sets aside effects on other people.
She justifies the sentence by what the offender deserves, not by its future effects, which is the retributive view.
The trap: Deterrence is tempting because punishment is involved, but she explicitly sets aside effects on other people.
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Question 3 · Contemporary Foundational Issues
A visiting student writes that a host country's table customs are primitive, because they differ from the customs she grew up with. Her judgment is best described as
Show the answer
Answer: D. ethnocentrism. She measures another culture against her own and ranks it lower, which is ethnocentrism.
The trap: Cultural relativism is tempting because culture is involved, but relativists refuse to judge other cultures by outside standards.
She measures another culture against her own and ranks it lower, which is ethnocentrism.
The trap: Cultural relativism is tempting because culture is involved, but relativists refuse to judge other cultures by outside standards.
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Question 4 · Ethical Traditions
A man gives so much money to others that he cannot pay his own bills. How would Aristotle classify this generosity?
Show the answer
Answer: A. A vice of excess, since he gives more than his situation warrants. For Aristotle, generosity is a mean between stinginess and wastefulness. Giving beyond one's means is the excess.
The trap: Calling it a virtue because more is always better ignores the doctrine of the mean. Aristotle does not value any trait in unlimited amounts.
For Aristotle, generosity is a mean between stinginess and wastefulness. Giving beyond one's means is the excess.
The trap: Calling it a virtue because more is always better ignores the doctrine of the mean. Aristotle does not value any trait in unlimited amounts.
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Question 5 · Ethical Analysis of real-world issues
A physician gives a dying patient a large dose of painkiller, intending to relieve her agony and foreseeing, but not intending, that it may hasten her death. Which principle is usually used to defend this act?
Show the answer
Answer: C. The doctrine of double effect. The good intended effect is relief; the bad effect is foreseen and not the means, matching double effect.
The trap: Voluntary euthanasia intends death as the means to end suffering, whereas here death is a foreseen side effect only.
The good intended effect is relief; the bad effect is foreseen and not the means, matching double effect.
The trap: Voluntary euthanasia intends death as the means to end suffering, whereas here death is a foreseen side effect only.
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Question 6 · Contemporary Foundational Issues
A defense lawyer argues that her client's genes and upbringing made his crime inevitable, that nobody ever acts freely, and that he therefore cannot be blamed. Which position is she taking?
Show the answer
Answer: B. Hard determinism. She says every act is caused and that this removes free will and blame, which is hard determinism.
The trap: Compatibilism accepts that acts are caused but still counts people as free and responsible, so it would not excuse him on these grounds.
She says every act is caused and that this removes free will and blame, which is hard determinism.
The trap: Compatibilism accepts that acts are caused but still counts people as free and responsible, so it would not excuse him on these grounds.
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Question 7 · Ethical Traditions
Socrates held that virtue is knowledge. How would he most likely explain a man who knowingly cheats his customers?
Show the answer
Answer: A. He does not truly know that cheating harms his soul. If virtue is knowledge, no one who truly understands the good does wrong on purpose. Cheating therefore reveals ignorance of what is truly good for him.
The trap: Lack of willpower is the view that one can know the good and still fail to do it. Socrates denied this.
If virtue is knowledge, no one who truly understands the good does wrong on purpose. Cheating therefore reveals ignorance of what is truly good for him.
The trap: Lack of willpower is the view that one can know the good and still fail to do it. Socrates denied this.
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Question 8 · Ethical Analysis of real-world issues
At his patient's repeated request, a doctor injects a lethal drug to end her suffering from terminal illness. This is best classified as
Show the answer
Answer: D. active voluntary euthanasia. The doctor directly causes death and the patient requested it, making it active and voluntary.
The trap: Assisted suicide is tempting, but in that case the patient performs the final act; here the doctor does.
The doctor directly causes death and the patient requested it, making it active and voluntary.
The trap: Assisted suicide is tempting, but in that case the patient performs the final act; here the doctor does.
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Question 9 · Contemporary Foundational Issues
A speaker who says 'Cheating is wrong' means only to voice disapproval and to move her listeners to share it; she is not stating any fact. Which view does she hold?
Show the answer
Answer: B. Emotivism. She treats moral statements as expressions of feeling meant to influence others, which is emotivism, associated with Ayer.
The trap: Subjectivism is close, but it says the statement reports the speaker's own attitude and so is true or false.
She treats moral statements as expressions of feeling meant to influence others, which is emotivism, associated with Ayer.
The trap: Subjectivism is close, but it says the statement reports the speaker's own attitude and so is true or false.
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Question 10 · Ethical Traditions
A legislator argues that a law ordering citizens to harm innocent neighbors is not truly law at all, because it conflicts with moral principles that reason can discover in human nature. Which theory is she applying?
Show the answer
Answer: D. Natural law theory. Natural law theory, developed by Aquinas, holds that moral principles come from human nature and that an unjust human law lacks genuine authority.
The trap: Social contract theory grounds authority in agreement among people. Her argument appeals to moral principles in human nature instead.
Natural law theory, developed by Aquinas, holds that moral principles come from human nature and that an unjust human law lacks genuine authority.
The trap: Social contract theory grounds authority in agreement among people. Her argument appeals to moral principles in human nature instead.
The DSST Ethics in America exam at a glance
The DSST Ethics in America exam is a 120-minute, computer-based test from Prometric with about 100 multiple-choice questions. A score of 400 on the 200–500 scale earns an ACE credit recommendation of 3 semester hours, though each college sets its own policy. The exam covers 3 content areas; the heaviest is Ethical Traditions at 50%.
- Questions
- About 100multiple choice
- Time
- 120 minabout 72 seconds a question
- Passing score
- 400on a 200–500 scale
- ACE credit
- 3semester hours
- Exam fee
- $100paid to Prometric
- Calculator
- Nonot allowed
What the exam covers
3 areas, heaviest first. The guide's chapters follow this order.
- Ethical Traditions50%
- Ethical Analysis of real-world issues40%
- Contemporary Foundational Issues10%
How it works
- 1Buy once, $5Secure checkout. No subscription needed.
- 2Download the PDFFrom your TransferCredit.org account, right away and any time later.
- 3Study the heaviest areas firstFollow the 2-, 4- or 8-week plan, then read the cram sheet the night before.
Questions students ask
What's in the full DSST Ethics in America study guide?
33 pages: 3 chapters, one per official content area, heaviest first. 182 terms, each with a plain-English definition and an example, 13 key people, common traps and memory tricks, 41 practice questions with an answer key that explains every answer, question tactics, 2-, 4- and 8-week study plans and a 2-page cram sheet.
How much is the full DSST Ethics in America study guide?
The full 33-page PDF is $5, a one-time payment. The 10 practice questions on this page are free, with no account.
What does the $29 plan include?
$29 a month gives you all DSST subjects: every DSST study guide plus the full prep course for each subject, and you can cancel anytime. If you only need this exam, the guide on its own is a one-time $5.
How do I get the full guide?
Choose Buy this guide ($5) and check out. Then sign in to your TransferCredit.org account, then open the course and its Download Your Study Guide lesson. The PDF is yours to keep, and you can download it again from your account at any time.
Can I print the guide or use it on my phone?
Yes. It's a PDF, so it opens on phones, tablets and computers, and printing is allowed. Its tick boxes and answer bubbles work in PDF readers that support forms. Copying and editing are turned off.
Is this an official DSST study guide?
No. DSST® is a registered trademark of Prometric, which was not involved in producing this guide and does not endorse it. TransferCredit.org is independent. We built the guide from the official exam outline, and the exam details were checked against Prometric's published exam information in 2026.
Why is this study guide better than a generic review?
It follows the official outline area by area and spends the most pages on what the exam weighs most. Every term comes with an example, each chapter names the traps the exam sets, and the answer key explains why the most tempting wrong answer is wrong, not just which answer is right. It ends with a 2-page cram sheet for the night before.
What is the DSST Ethics in America exam?
The DSST Ethics in America exam is a 120-minute, computer-based test from Prometric with about 100 multiple-choice questions. A score of 400 on the 200–500 scale earns an ACE credit recommendation of 3 semester hours, though each college sets its own policy. The exam covers 3 content areas; the heaviest is Ethical Traditions at 50%.
More questions about the DSST Ethics in America exam (21)
How many questions are on the DSST Ethics in America exam, and how long is it?
It contains 100 questions to be answered in 2 hours, all multiple choice with one correct answer and three incorrect options.
What is the passing score for DSST Ethics in America?
The passing score is 400 on a 200–500 scale. At 400 or above, the American Council on Education (ACE) recommends 3 semester hours. Each college sets its own passing score and credit award, so check your school's policy before you book.
How much does the DSST Ethics in America exam cost?
The exam fee is $100, paid to Prometric. Test centers may add their own administration fee. Eligible U.S. military service members can usually test for free through DANTES.
How many college credits is DSST Ethics in America worth?
ACE recommends 3 semester hours for a passing score of 400. Your college decides how many credits it awards and which course they replace. Check your college's policy.
Is there a penalty for guessing on DSST Ethics in America?
No. Your score counts only correct answers, so a wrong answer costs nothing. Never leave a question blank: rule out what you can and pick your best guess.
What topics are on the DSST Ethics in America exam?
3 content areas, from the official outline: Ethical Traditions (50%); Ethical Analysis of real-world issues (40%); Contemporary Foundational Issues (10%).
Which DSST Ethics in America topics should I study first?
Start with Ethical Traditions (50%), the largest of the exam's 3 areas, then Ethical Analysis of real-world issues (40%) and Contemporary Foundational Issues (10%). The guide's chapters run in that order, heaviest first.
Is the DSST Ethics in America exam hard?
It depends on what you already know. The exam has only 3 content areas, so each one carries real weight: Ethical Traditions (50%), Ethical Analysis of real-world issues (40%) and Contemporary Foundational Issues (10%). Take the free diagnostic above to see where you stand in about 10 minutes.
What kinds of questions are on the DSST Ethics in America exam?
The guide sorts them into 5 types: “Name the thinker”, “Thinker plus reason”, “Apply the theory to a case”, “Which is an example” and “Tell close positions apart”. Every question has 4 answer choices. Try the 10 free questions above to see the style.
How long should I study for DSST Ethics in America?
Use the diagnostic to decide. If you already know most areas, two weeks of daily review is often enough; if the subject is new to you, plan on eight. The full guide has 2-, 4- and 8-week plans built from the exam weights.
How should I pace myself on the DSST Ethics in America exam?
On average you have about 72 seconds per question (120 minutes for 100 questions). Be past question 33 a third of the way through and past question 67 two-thirds through. If a question takes more than a minute, pick your best guess, mark it and come back.
What happens if I don't pass DSST Ethics in America?
You can retake a DSST exam after 30 days. Use the wait to work through the areas the score report and the diagnostic show you missed.
Do colleges accept DSST Ethics in America for credit?
DSST exams are accepted at more than 1,500 colleges and universities, but each school decides which exams it accepts, the score it requires and the credit it gives. Look up your college's DSST policy before you book.
How up to date is this DSST Ethics in America guide?
Last updated 2026. The exam details were checked against Prometric's published exam information in 2026. Exams change, so confirm the details on the official exam page before you register.
What should I do the night before the exam?
Read the cram sheet once, slowly. Check your test time, the location or remote-proctoring setup, and the ID you need. Then sleep: a rested brain recalls more than a crammed one. In the morning, skim the memory tricks and common traps, then stop studying.
Which philosophers are on DSST Ethics in America?
The outline names Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus, Aquinas, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Jefferson, Kant, Martin Luther King Jr., Rawls, Nozick, Epicurus, Adam Smith, Bentham, Mill, Ayn Rand, Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings.
What's the difference between utilitarianism and Kantian ethics for DSST Ethics in America?
Utilitarians such as Bentham and Mill judge an action by its consequences, aiming for the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Kant judges it by duty and the categorical imperative, including never treating a person merely as a means. The official sample questions test both, such as Bentham's measure of pleasure and pain and Kant's view of suicide.
Does DSST Ethics in America cover artificial intelligence?
Yes. Artificial intelligence is listed under Ethical Analysis of Real-World Issues, 40% of the exam, alongside biomedical topics such as embryonic stem cell research, human subjects and organ donation.
What textbooks should I use for DSST Ethics in America?
The DSST fact sheet suggests Thiroux and Krasemann's Ethics: Theory and Practice, Bonevac's Today's Moral Issues: Classic and Contemporary Perspectives, and Lewis Vaughn's Doing Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Moral Issues.
Do I need to share my own opinions on the exam?
No. Questions ask how a theory or thinker would analyze an issue, or what an argument claims — not what you personally believe.
Can I take DSST Ethics in America online?
Yes. DSST exams can be taken at a test center or online with a remote Prometric proctor.
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