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- 40 practice questions, answers explained
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DSST® Study Guide
Printable PDF · 34 pages
DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology Study Guide
Everything the DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology exam tests, in one PDF you can print. Built from Prometric's official outline, heaviest topics first.
- 181 key terms, each with an example
- 40 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 34-page PDF.
What you get for $5
One chapter for each official content area, in the order the exam weighs them.
- 📘34pages, printable
- 🧭5chapters, heaviest first
- 🔑181terms with examples
- ✍️40practice questions, answers explained
- ⚠️15exam traps to avoid
- 📄2page cram sheet
Try 10 free Lifespan Developmental Psychology questions
In the style of the real exam, from all 5 areas. About 10 minutes, with every answer explained and a score by area.
10 questions
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Question 1 · Social, Emotional, and Personality Development
A 5-year-old proudly plans a pretend restaurant and asks to be the cook. Her father snaps that she is being silly and makes a mess, and she stops suggesting games, feeling bad for starting them. Which Erikson crisis is she struggling with?
Show the answer
Answer: D. Initiative versus guilt. Planning and starting activities fits ages 3 to 6, and harsh reactions lead to guilt. That is initiative versus guilt.
The trap: Industry versus inferiority is close, but it applies to school-age children mastering skills. This girl is a preschooler who feels guilty for starting things.
Planning and starting activities fits ages 3 to 6, and harsh reactions lead to guilt. That is initiative versus guilt.
The trap: Industry versus inferiority is close, but it applies to school-age children mastering skills. This girl is a preschooler who feels guilty for starting things.
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Question 2 · Biological Development
A breastfeeding coach tells a new mother to brush the nipple against her baby's cheek so the baby will turn and latch on. Which reflex is the coach relying on?
Show the answer
Answer: A. Rooting. A touch on the cheek makes the baby turn toward it and open her mouth. That is rooting, the reflex that helps a baby find food.
The trap: Palmar grasp also starts with a touch, but it makes the fingers close around an object, not the head turn to feed.
A touch on the cheek makes the baby turn toward it and open her mouth. That is rooting, the reflex that helps a baby find food.
The trap: Palmar grasp also starts with a touch, but it makes the fingers close around an object, not the head turn to feed.
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Question 3 · Cognition and Language
A 3-year-old watches water poured from a short, wide glass into a tall, thin glass and insists the tall glass now holds more. Which ability does this answer show the child lacks?
Show the answer
Answer: B. Conservation. The amount of water did not change, only its shape. Understanding that quantity stays the same despite a change in appearance is conservation, which preoperational children lack.
The trap: Object permanence is tempting because it is also a Piaget milestone, but it concerns objects out of sight, and children master it in infancy.
The amount of water did not change, only its shape. Understanding that quantity stays the same despite a change in appearance is conservation, which preoperational children lack.
The trap: Object permanence is tempting because it is also a Piaget milestone, but it concerns objects out of sight, and children master it in infancy.
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Question 4 · Perception, Learning, and Memory
Researchers show an infant two pictures at the same time, a face and a plain oval, and record that the baby looks at the face for much longer. This method most directly shows that the baby
Show the answer
Answer: C. can tell the two pictures apart. Looking longer at one of two choices shows the infant can distinguish them. This is the preferential looking method.
The trap: Object permanence is about knowing hidden objects still exist, which this task doesn't test.
Looking longer at one of two choices shows the infant can distinguish them. This is the preferential looking method.
The trap: Object permanence is about knowing hidden objects still exist, which this task doesn't test.
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Question 5 · The Study of Lifespan Development
A researcher tests the memory of 20-, 40- and 60-year-olds during one month and compares the three groups. Which design is this?
Show the answer
Answer: A. Cross-sectional. Different age groups are measured at a single point in time, which is a cross-sectional design.
The trap: Longitudinal is tempting because ages are compared, but longitudinal studies follow the same people across years.
Different age groups are measured at a single point in time, which is a cross-sectional design.
The trap: Longitudinal is tempting because ages are compared, but longitudinal studies follow the same people across years.
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Question 6 · Social, Emotional, and Personality Development
A 52-year-old engineer spends weekends mentoring young apprentices and helping run a community youth program. She says it gives her life meaning. Which Erikson task is she resolving positively?
Show the answer
Answer: B. Generativity versus stagnation. Guiding and contributing to the next generation is the central task of middle adulthood: generativity versus stagnation.
The trap: Integrity versus despair is tempting because she finds meaning, but it belongs to late life and involves reviewing one's own past, not mentoring others.
Guiding and contributing to the next generation is the central task of middle adulthood: generativity versus stagnation.
The trap: Integrity versus despair is tempting because she finds meaning, but it belongs to late life and involves reviewing one's own past, not mentoring others.
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Question 7 · Biological Development
Two parents who both have normal skin pigment each carry one recessive gene for albinism. What is the chance that a given child of theirs will have albinism?
Show the answer
Answer: D. 1 in 4. A recessive trait appears only when a child receives the recessive gene from both carrier parents, which happens in 1 of 4 cases.
The trap: None is tempting because neither parent shows the trait, but carriers can each pass on the recessive gene.
A recessive trait appears only when a child receives the recessive gene from both carrier parents, which happens in 1 of 4 cases.
The trap: None is tempting because neither parent shows the trait, but carriers can each pass on the recessive gene.
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Question 8 · Cognition and Language
A toddler who knows the word "horse" calls a zebra "horse" at first. After her father points out the stripes, she creates a new category for zebras. Which process produced the new category?
Show the answer
Answer: C. Accommodation. Building a new category because the animal did not fit the old one changes the schema, which is accommodation.
The trap: Assimilation names her first reaction, calling the zebra a horse. The new category is the change, not the fit.
Building a new category because the animal did not fit the old one changes the schema, which is accommodation.
The trap: Assimilation names her first reaction, calling the zebra a horse. The new category is the change, not the fit.
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Question 9 · Perception, Learning, and Memory
A 10-month-old is shown the same toy over and over and looks at it for shorter and shorter periods. When a new toy appears, she looks longer. Which process explains the first change?
Show the answer
Answer: D. Habituation. Decreasing interest in a repeated stimulus is habituation. Looking longer at the new toy shows she notices the difference.
The trap: Extinction is the fading of a learned response when reinforcement stops, not decreased interest in a repeated stimulus.
Decreasing interest in a repeated stimulus is habituation. Looking longer at the new toy shows she notices the difference.
The trap: Extinction is the fading of a learned response when reinforcement stops, not decreased interest in a repeated stimulus.
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Question 10 · The Study of Lifespan Development
A team follows 500 children from age 5 to age 25. By the end, many participants with low incomes have moved away and can't be reached. What is the most serious threat to the study's conclusions?
Show the answer
Answer: A. The remaining sample may no longer be representative. Nonrandom dropout is selective attrition. The people who remain differ from those who left, which biases results.
The trap: Comparing ages at one moment describes a cross-sectional design, not this one, which tracks the same participants.
Nonrandom dropout is selective attrition. The people who remain differ from those who left, which biases results.
The trap: Comparing ages at one moment describes a cross-sectional design, not this one, which tracks the same participants.
The DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology exam at a glance
The DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology 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 5 content areas; the heaviest is Social, Emotional, and Personality Development at 31%.
- 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
Source: official DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology exam page.
What the exam covers
5 areas, heaviest first. The guide's chapters follow this order.
- Social, Emotional, and Personality Development31%
- Biological Development22%
- Cognition and Language20%
- Perception, Learning, and Memory15%
- The Study of Lifespan Development12%
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 Lifespan Developmental Psychology study guide?
34 pages: 5 chapters, one per official content area, heaviest first. 181 terms, each with a plain-English definition and an example, 18 key people, common traps and memory tricks, 40 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 Lifespan Developmental Psychology study guide?
The full 34-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 Lifespan Developmental Psychology exam?
The DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology 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 5 content areas; the heaviest is Social, Emotional, and Personality Development at 31%.
More questions about the DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology exam (21)
How many questions are on the DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology exam, and how long is it?
It has 100 questions to be answered in 2 hours.
What is the passing score for DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology?
The passing score is 400 on a 200–500 scale. At 400 or above, the American Council on Education (ACE) recommends 3 semester hours of upper-level baccalaureate credit. Each college sets its own passing score and credit award, so check your school's policy before you book.
How much does the DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology 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 Lifespan Developmental Psychology worth?
ACE recommends 3 semester hours of upper-level baccalaureate credit 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 Lifespan Developmental Psychology?
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 Lifespan Developmental Psychology exam?
5 content areas, from the official outline: Social, Emotional, and Personality Development (31%); Biological Development (22%); Cognition and Language (20%); Perception, Learning, and Memory (15%); The Study of Lifespan Development (12%).
Which DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology topics should I study first?
Start with the three heaviest: Social, Emotional, and Personality Development (31%), Biological Development (22%) and Cognition and Language (20%). Together they are about 73% of the exam, roughly 73 of 100 questions. The guide's chapters run in that order, heaviest first.
Is the DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology exam hard?
It depends on what you already know. A few big areas decide most of your score: Social, Emotional, and Personality Development alone is 31% of the exam, while the Study of Lifespan Development is 12%. Take the free diagnostic above to see where you stand in about 10 minutes.
What kinds of questions are on the DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology exam?
The guide sorts them into 5 types: “Name the theorist”, “Identify the research design”, “Apply the concept to a scene”, “Sequence or stage” and “Best generalization”. Every question has 4 answer choices. Try the 10 free questions above to see the style.
How long should I study for DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology?
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 Lifespan Developmental Psychology 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 Lifespan Developmental Psychology?
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 Lifespan Developmental Psychology 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.
Should I take DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology or CLEP Human Growth and Development?
Both cover the same subject. DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology: about 100 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 400, fee $100. CLEP Human Growth and Development: about 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 50, fee $97. Take the one your college accepts; most colleges award the credit once, not for both. See the CLEP Human Growth and Development study guide.
How up to date is this DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology 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.
Can I take DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology online?
Yes. DSST exams can be taken at a test center or online with a remote Prometric proctor.
Is DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology upper-level credit?
Yes. ACE recommends 3 semester hours at the upper-level baccalaureate level, which some programs value for advanced-credit requirements. Your college decides how the credit applies to your degree.
Which developmental theorists should I know for DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology?
DSST sample questions cover Erikson's psychosocial stages, Kohlberg's moral reasoning, Chomsky's view of innate language development and Elkind's adolescent egocentrism, such as the imaginary audience. Piaget and Vygotsky matter too, for cognitive-developmental theory. Learn each theorist's stages or model well enough to apply it to a described situation.
What research designs should I know for DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology?
The Study of Lifespan Development (12%) covers models and theories, research methods and ethical issues. Know longitudinal, cross-sectional and cross-sequential designs: a longitudinal study follows the same people over time, while a cross-sectional study compares different age groups at one point.
Does DSST Lifespan Developmental Psychology cover adulthood and aging?
Heavily. The largest area, Social, Emotional, and Personality Development (31%), includes singlehood, cohabitation, marriage and family, work and retirement, and adjusting to change and stress. Biological Development (22%) runs through aging, dying, death and bereavement.
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DSST® is a registered trademark of Prometric, which was not involved in producing this guide and does not endorse it. TransferCredit.org is independent and not affiliated with Prometric. © 2026 UPI Globale Edu Inc.