$5one-time
- 33-page printable PDF
- 180 terms with examples
- 40 practice questions, answers explained
- 2-page cram sheet and study plans
← DSST Principles of Statistics course
DSST® Study Guide
Printable PDF · 33 pages
DSST Principles of Statistics Study Guide
Everything the DSST Principles of Statistics exam tests, in one PDF you can print. Built from Prometric's official outline, heaviest topics first.
- 180 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 33-page PDF.
What you get for $5
One chapter for each official content area, in the order the exam weighs them.
- 📘33pages, printable
- 🧭5chapters, heaviest first
- 🔑180terms with examples
- ✍️40practice questions, answers explained
- ⚠️15exam traps to avoid
- 📄2page cram sheet
Try 10 free Principles of Statistics 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 · Foundations of Statistics
A survey asks shoppers to rate their satisfaction as very dissatisfied, dissatisfied, neutral, satisfied or very satisfied. At which level of measurement are these ratings?
Show the answer
Answer: A. Ordinal. The ratings have a clear order, but the distance between 'satisfied' and 'very satisfied' is not known to equal the distance between other neighbors. That is the ordinal level.
The trap: Nominal is wrong because nominal categories have no natural order, and these ratings clearly rank from low to high.
The ratings have a clear order, but the distance between 'satisfied' and 'very satisfied' is not known to equal the distance between other neighbors. That is the ordinal level.
The trap: Nominal is wrong because nominal categories have no natural order, and these ratings clearly rank from low to high.
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Question 2 · Probability
In a survey of households, 40% subscribe to cable, 30% subscribe to a streaming service, and 10% subscribe to both. What is the probability that a randomly chosen household subscribes to at least one of the two?
Show the answer
Answer: D. 0.60. By the addition rule, P(cable or streaming) = 0.40 + 0.30 − 0.10 = 0.60. The 0.10 is subtracted because those households were counted in both groups.
The trap: 0.70 comes from adding 0.40 and 0.30 without subtracting the overlap, which counts the households that have both services twice.
By the addition rule, P(cable or streaming) = 0.40 + 0.30 − 0.10 = 0.60. The 0.10 is subtracted because those households were counted in both groups.
The trap: 0.70 comes from adding 0.40 and 0.30 without subtracting the overlap, which counts the households that have both services twice.
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Question 3 · Correlation and Regression
The correlation between daily hours of television watched and grade point average for a group of students is r = −0.85. Which statement is correct?
Show the answer
Answer: B. A strong negative linear relationship: more TV time tends to go with a lower GPA. A value of |r| = 0.85 is close to 1, so the linear relationship is strong, and the negative sign says GPA tends to fall as viewing time rises.
The trap: The 85% claim confuses r with r². The proportion of variation explained is r² = (−0.85)² ≈ 0.72, or about 72%.
A value of |r| = 0.85 is close to 1, so the linear relationship is strong, and the negative sign says GPA tends to fall as viewing time rises.
The trap: The 85% claim confuses r with r². The proportion of variation explained is r² = (−0.85)² ≈ 0.72, or about 72%.
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Question 4 · Sampling Distributions
Maya scored 82 on a test with mean 70 and standard deviation 8. Jon scored 640 on a different test with mean 600 and standard deviation 20. Which statement is correct?
Show the answer
Answer: C. Jon did better relative to his test, since his z score is 2.0 and Maya's is 1.5. Maya's z = (82 − 70)/8 = 1.5 and Jon's z = (640 − 600)/20 = 2.0. Jon is further above his test mean in standard deviation units.
The trap: 12 and 40 are raw distances from each mean, not z scores. They ignore that the two tests have different standard deviations.
Maya's z = (82 − 70)/8 = 1.5 and Jon's z = (640 − 600)/20 = 2.0. Jon is further above his test mean in standard deviation units.
The trap: 12 and 40 are raw distances from each mean, not z scores. They ignore that the two tests have different standard deviations.
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Question 5 · Inferential Statistics
A random sample of n = 49 values has x̄ = 82. The population standard deviation is known to be σ = 14. What is the 95% confidence interval for the population mean?
Show the answer
Answer: A. (78.08, 85.92). The standard error is 14/√49 = 2 and the margin of error is 1.96 × 2 = 3.92. The interval is 82 ± 3.92 = (78.08, 85.92).
The trap: (78.71, 85.29) uses 1.645, the critical value for 90% confidence, not 95%.
The standard error is 14/√49 = 2 and the margin of error is 1.96 × 2 = 3.92. The interval is 82 ± 3.92 = (78.08, 85.92).
The trap: (78.71, 85.29) uses 1.645, the critical value for 90% confidence, not 95%.
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Question 6 · Foundations of Statistics
A school has an alphabetical list of 1,200 students. The registrar picks a random starting number between 1 and 10 and then takes every 10th name after it. Which sampling method is this?
Show the answer
Answer: B. Systematic sample. Selecting every kth name from a list after a random start is the definition of a systematic sample. Here k = 10, giving 120 students.
The trap: Simple random sample is wrong because not every group of 120 students is equally likely. Neighbors 10 apart on the list always come together.
Selecting every kth name from a list after a random start is the definition of a systematic sample. Here k = 10, giving 120 students.
The trap: Simple random sample is wrong because not every group of 120 students is equally likely. Neighbors 10 apart on the list always come together.
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Question 7 · Probability
A basketball player makes 70% of her free throws, and each shot is independent. If she takes 6 shots, what is the probability that she makes exactly 4? Round to three decimal places.
Show the answer
Answer: C. 0.324. This is binomial with n = 6, p = 0.7, x = 4: 6C4 · 0.7⁴ · 0.3² = 15 · 0.2401 · 0.09 = 0.324.
The trap: 0.022 is 0.7⁴ · 0.3² with the 6C4 = 15 ways to place the four makes left out. The make and miss orders must be counted.
This is binomial with n = 6, p = 0.7, x = 4: 6C4 · 0.7⁴ · 0.3² = 15 · 0.2401 · 0.09 = 0.324.
The trap: 0.022 is 0.7⁴ · 0.3² with the 6C4 = 15 ways to place the four makes left out. The make and miss orders must be counted.
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Question 8 · Correlation and Regression
A study finds r = 0.6, sx = 5 and sy = 15 for the relationship between two variables. What is the slope of the least-squares line for predicting y from x?
Show the answer
Answer: D. 1.8. The slope is b = r · sy/sx = 0.6 × 15/5 = 0.6 × 3 = 1.8.
The trap: 0.2 comes from inverting the ratio, 0.6 × 5/15, which is the slope for predicting x from y rather than y from x.
The slope is b = r · sy/sx = 0.6 × 15/5 = 0.6 × 3 = 1.8.
The trap: 0.2 comes from inverting the ratio, 0.6 × 5/15, which is the slope for predicting x from y rather than y from x.
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Question 9 · Sampling Distributions
Scores on a standardized test are approximately normal with mean 50 and standard deviation 6. A student has a z score of −1.25. What is the student's raw score?
Show the answer
Answer: B. 42.5. Use x = μ + zσ = 50 + (−1.25)(6) = 50 − 7.5 = 42.5.
The trap: 57.5 comes from adding 7.5 instead of subtracting it, losing the negative sign of z. A negative z means the score is below the mean.
Use x = μ + zσ = 50 + (−1.25)(6) = 50 − 7.5 = 42.5.
The trap: 57.5 comes from adding 7.5 instead of subtracting it, losing the negative sign of z. A negative z means the score is below the mean.
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Question 10 · Inferential Statistics
A researcher wants a 95% confidence interval for a mean with a margin of error of no more than 4. The population standard deviation is σ = 20. What is the smallest sample size that works?
Show the answer
Answer: D. 97. n = (z*σ/E)² = (1.96 × 20/4)² = 9.8² = 96.04. Sample size is always rounded up, so n = 97.
The trap: 96 comes from rounding 96.04 down, which would give a margin of error slightly larger than 4.
n = (z*σ/E)² = (1.96 × 20/4)² = 9.8² = 96.04. Sample size is always rounded up, so n = 97.
The trap: 96 comes from rounding 96.04 down, which would give a margin of error slightly larger than 4.
The DSST Principles of Statistics exam at a glance
The DSST Principles of Statistics 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 Foundations of Statistics at 20%.
- 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
- Yesnon-programmable allowed
What the exam covers
5 areas, heaviest first. The guide's chapters follow this order.
- Foundations of Statistics20%
- Probability20%
- Correlation and Regression20%
- Sampling Distributions20%
- Inferential Statistics20%
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 Principles of Statistics study guide?
33 pages: 5 chapters, one per official content area, heaviest first. 180 terms, each with a plain-English definition and an example, 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 Principles of Statistics 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 Principles of Statistics exam?
The DSST Principles of Statistics 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 Foundations of Statistics at 20%.
More questions about the DSST Principles of Statistics exam (22)
How many questions are on the DSST Principles of Statistics 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 Principles of Statistics?
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 Principles of Statistics 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 Principles of Statistics 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.
Can I use a calculator on the DSST Principles of Statistics exam?
A non-programmable calculator is permitted, and a standard normal (z) table appears as the first few items in the exam.
Is there a penalty for guessing on DSST Principles of Statistics?
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 Principles of Statistics exam?
5 content areas, from the official outline: Foundations of Statistics (20%); Probability (20%); Correlation and Regression (20%); Sampling Distributions (20%); Inferential Statistics (20%).
Which DSST Principles of Statistics topics should I study first?
Start with the three heaviest: Foundations of Statistics (20%), Probability (20%) and Correlation and Regression (20%). Together they are about 60% of the exam, roughly 60 of 100 questions. The guide's chapters run in that order, heaviest first.
Is the DSST Principles of Statistics exam hard?
It depends on what you already know. No single area dominates: the largest, Foundations of Statistics, is 20% and the smallest, Inferential Statistics, is 20%, so broad coverage matters more than deep expertise in one topic. Take the free diagnostic above to see where you stand in about 10 minutes.
What kinds of questions are on the DSST Principles of Statistics exam?
The guide sorts them into 5 types: “Compute from a formula”, “Name the method or design”, “Scaling and what-happens-if”, “Interpret a result” and “Which statement is true”. Every question has 4 answer choices. Try the 10 free questions above to see the style.
How long should I study for DSST Principles of Statistics?
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 Principles of Statistics 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 Principles of Statistics?
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 Principles of Statistics 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 is the guide different from the DSST Principles of Statistics course?
The guide is a 33-page PDF for review and self-testing. The DSST Principles of Statistics course is a full online course with lessons, quizzes and a practice exam, for $19 with lifetime access. Many students use the guide first, then take the course for the areas the diagnostic flags.
How up to date is this DSST Principles of Statistics 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.
Is there a CLEP statistics exam?
No. CLEP does not offer a statistics exam, so DSST Principles of Statistics is the standard credit-by-exam option for introductory statistics.
Where is the z-table on the DSST Principles of Statistics exam?
It appears as the first few items of the exam. Mark those items for review when you start so you can jump back to the table whenever a question needs it.
Which probability distributions should I know for DSST Principles of Statistics?
The binomial, Poisson and geometric distributions (discrete), the uniform and normal distributions (continuous), and the sampling distribution of the mean with the central limit theorem.
Does DSST Principles of Statistics include ANOVA and chi-square?
Yes. Both are in the inferential statistics area, along with confidence intervals, z- and t-tests and hypothesis testing.
Can I take DSST Principles of Statistics online?
Yes. DSST exams can be taken at a test center or online with a remote Prometric proctor.
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