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- 47 practice questions, answers explained
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DSST® Study Guide
Printable PDF · 42 pages
DSST History of the Soviet Union Study Guide
Everything the DSST History of the Soviet Union exam tests, in one PDF you can print. Built from Prometric's official outline, heaviest topics first.
- 182 key terms, each with an example
- 47 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 42-page PDF.
What you get for $5
One chapter for each official content area, in the order the exam weighs them.
- 📘42pages, printable
- 🧭9chapters, heaviest first
- 🔑182terms with examples
- ✍️47practice questions, answers explained
- ⚠️27exam traps to avoid
- 📄2page cram sheet
Try 10 free History of the Soviet Union questions
In the style of the real exam, from all 9 areas. About 10 minutes, with every answer explained and a score by area.
10 questions
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Question 1 · Reform and Collapse Under Gorbachev
A Soviet newspaper in 1987 publishes critical articles about Stalin's crimes and officials' corruption. The Gorbachev policy that made this possible was
Show the answer
Answer: C. glasnost. Glasnost, or openness, relaxed censorship and encouraged public debate about the past and present.
The trap: Perestroika is tempting because it was Gorbachev's other signature policy, but it meant restructuring the economy and politics, not freedom of expression.
Glasnost, or openness, relaxed censorship and encouraged public debate about the past and present.
The trap: Perestroika is tempting because it was Gorbachev's other signature policy, but it meant restructuring the economy and politics, not freedom of expression.
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Question 2 · Russia in War and Revolutions, 1914-1922
In late August 1917 (early September New Style) Kerensky gave weapons to Petrograd workers' Red Guards, including Bolsheviks. His purpose was to
Show the answer
Answer: A. block Kornilov's troops from reaching the capital. Kerensky feared that Kornilov's advance on Petrograd was a coup, so he turned to the workers' militias. This rearmed the Bolsheviks and damaged his own standing.
The trap: Putting down a Bolshevik uprising is wrong: he armed Bolshevik-led Red Guards because he needed them against Kornilov.
Kerensky feared that Kornilov's advance on Petrograd was a coup, so he turned to the workers' militias. This rearmed the Bolsheviks and damaged his own standing.
The trap: Putting down a Bolshevik uprising is wrong: he armed Bolshevik-led Red Guards because he needed them against Kornilov.
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Question 3 · The Second World War
In August 1939 a Soviet diplomat signs a treaty with Germany that includes a secret protocol dividing Poland and the Baltic region into spheres of influence. The treaty is the
Show the answer
Answer: D. Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact paired a public nonaggression promise with a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe.
The trap: The Munich Agreement concerned Czechoslovakia in 1938 and was signed by Britain, France, Germany and Italy, not by the USSR.
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact paired a public nonaggression promise with a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe.
The trap: The Munich Agreement concerned Czechoslovakia in 1938 and was signed by Britain, France, Germany and Italy, not by the USSR.
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Question 4 · The Khrushchev Years
In June 1957 a majority in the Presidium voted to remove Khrushchev as first secretary. How did he turn the situation around?
Show the answer
Answer: B. He appealed to the Central Committee, which overruled them. Khrushchev insisted that only the Central Committee could remove him, and it supported him. His opponents were then labeled the Anti-Party Group and removed.
The trap: Having the army arrest the Presidium members is wrong: he won by an appeal inside the party, not by force.
Khrushchev insisted that only the Central Committee could remove him, and it supported him. His opponents were then labeled the Anti-Party Group and removed.
The trap: Having the army arrest the Presidium members is wrong: he won by an appeal inside the party, not by force.
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Question 5 · The Brezhnev Era
In August 1968 troops from the USSR and several Warsaw Pact allies entered a country whose Communist leader had promised 'socialism with a human face.' That country was
Show the answer
Answer: C. Czechoslovakia. The invasion ended Alexander Dubček's Prague Spring, and Moscow defended it with the doctrine that socialism anywhere was a common concern.
The trap: Hungary is tempting because Soviet tanks crushed its uprising too, but that was in 1956 and under Nagy, not in 1968.
The invasion ended Alexander Dubček's Prague Spring, and Moscow defended it with the doctrine that socialism anywhere was a common concern.
The trap: Hungary is tempting because Soviet tanks crushed its uprising too, but that was in 1956 and under Nagy, not in 1968.
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Question 6 · The Russian Empire (1860-1914)
In the 1890s a peasant family farmed land it had received at emancipation. What obligation did the 1861 settlement place on it?
Show the answer
Answer: A. Installments paid to the state for its land over many years. Emancipation freed the serfs, but they paid for their land: the state compensated the landlords, and peasants repaid the state in installments over 49 years.
The trap: Full ownership with nothing owed is wrong: peasants paid for their allotments and usually held them through the commune.
Emancipation freed the serfs, but they paid for their land: the state compensated the landlords, and peasants repaid the state in installments over 49 years.
The trap: Full ownership with nothing owed is wrong: peasants paid for their allotments and usually held them through the commune.
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Question 7 · Early Stalinism 1929 - 1939
A Soviet planner in 1930 is told to maximize investment in line with the First Five-Year Plan. Which expenditure fits the plan's priorities?
Show the answer
Answer: D. A new steel mill and machine plant. The First Five-Year Plan stressed heavy industry such as steel, coal and machinery, at the expense of consumer goods and living standards.
The trap: A chain of consumer goods stores is wrong: the plan held down consumption to invest in factories.
The First Five-Year Plan stressed heavy industry such as steel, coal and machinery, at the expense of consumer goods and living standards.
The trap: A chain of consumer goods stores is wrong: the plan held down consumption to invest in factories.
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Question 8 · Postwar Stalinism
In 1948 the leader of a communist country refused to accept Moscow's direction of his economy and foreign policy, and his party was expelled from the Cominform. He was
Show the answer
Answer: B. Josip Broz Tito. Tito, whose Partisans had freed Yugoslavia largely by themselves, would not become Stalin's subordinate, so Yugoslavia was expelled in June 1948.
The trap: Imre Nagy led Hungary's 1956 uprising and Dubček led Czechoslovakia in 1968; neither was expelled from the Cominform in 1948.
Tito, whose Partisans had freed Yugoslavia largely by themselves, would not become Stalin's subordinate, so Yugoslavia was expelled in June 1948.
The trap: Imre Nagy led Hungary's 1956 uprising and Dubček led Czechoslovakia in 1968; neither was expelled from the Cominform in 1948.
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Question 9 · Early Soviet History from 1922 - 1928
A Soviet economist in 1925 is hired to prepare long-range forecasts for industry and agriculture across the Union. Which body does he join?
Show the answer
Answer: A. Gosplan. Gosplan, the state planning commission, prepared economic forecasts and later the five-year plans. The Politburo and Orgburo were party bodies for policy and personnel, and the Comintern dealt with foreign Communist parties.
The trap: The Orgburo is wrong: it was a party body that dealt with organizational matters, not economic planning.
Gosplan, the state planning commission, prepared economic forecasts and later the five-year plans. The Politburo and Orgburo were party bodies for policy and personnel, and the Comintern dealt with foreign Communist parties.
The trap: The Orgburo is wrong: it was a party body that dealt with organizational matters, not economic planning.
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Question 10 · Reform and Collapse Under Gorbachev
In 1989 the USSR held its first national elections with competing candidates, and the winners met in a televised assembly in Moscow. This assembly was the
Show the answer
Answer: B. Congress of People's Deputies. The Congress of People's Deputies, elected in March 1989, was the first partly free legislature in Soviet history.
The trap: The State Duma was the lower house of the Russian parliament from 1906 to 1917, long before the Gorbachev era.
The Congress of People's Deputies, elected in March 1989, was the first partly free legislature in Soviet history.
The trap: The State Duma was the lower house of the Russian parliament from 1906 to 1917, long before the Gorbachev era.
The DSST History of the Soviet Union exam at a glance
The DSST History of the Soviet Union 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 9 content areas; the heaviest is Reform and Collapse Under Gorbachev at 18%.
- 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 History of the Soviet Union exam page.
What the exam covers
9 areas, heaviest first. The guide's chapters follow this order.
- Reform and Collapse Under Gorbachev18%
- Russia in War and Revolutions, 1914-192212%
- The Second World War12%
- The Khrushchev Years12%
- The Brezhnev Era11%
- The Russian Empire (1860-1914)10%
- Early Stalinism 1929 - 193910%
- Postwar Stalinism10%
- Early Soviet History from 1922 - 19285%
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 History of the Soviet Union study guide?
42 pages: 9 chapters, one per official content area, heaviest first. 182 terms, each with a plain-English definition and an example, 43 key people, common traps and memory tricks, 47 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 History of the Soviet Union study guide?
The full 42-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 History of the Soviet Union exam?
The DSST History of the Soviet Union 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 9 content areas; the heaviest is Reform and Collapse Under Gorbachev at 18%.
More questions about the DSST History of the Soviet Union exam (21)
How many questions are on the DSST History of the Soviet Union 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 History of the Soviet Union?
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 History of the Soviet Union 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 History of the Soviet Union 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 History of the Soviet Union?
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 History of the Soviet Union exam?
9 content areas, from the official outline: Reform and Collapse Under Gorbachev (18%); Russia in War and Revolutions, 1914-1922 (12%); The Second World War (12%); The Khrushchev Years (12%); The Brezhnev Era (11%); The Russian Empire (1860-1914) (10%); Early Stalinism 1929 - 1939 (10%); Postwar Stalinism (10%); Early Soviet History from 1922 - 1928 (5%).
Which DSST History of the Soviet Union topics should I study first?
Start with the three heaviest: Reform and Collapse Under Gorbachev (18%), Russia in War and Revolutions, 1914-1922 (12%) and the Second World War (12%). Together they are about 42% of the exam, roughly 42 of 100 questions. The guide's chapters run in that order, heaviest first.
Is the DSST History of the Soviet Union exam hard?
It depends on what you already know. No single area dominates: the largest, Reform and Collapse Under Gorbachev, is 18% and the smallest, Early Soviet History from 1922 - 1928, is 5%, 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 History of the Soviet Union exam?
The guide sorts them into 5 types: “Purpose of an institution or policy”, “Cause and effect of an event”, “Name the term, person or body”, “Put events in order” and “What a document or doctrine claimed”. Every question has 4 answer choices. Try the 10 free questions above to see the style.
How long should I study for DSST History of the Soviet Union?
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 History of the Soviet Union 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 History of the Soviet Union?
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 History of the Soviet Union 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 History of the Soviet Union 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 this the same as The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union?
Yes. History of the Soviet Union is the current name for the exam formerly titled The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union.
Which leaders should I know for DSST History of the Soviet Union?
Know Alexander II and Nicholas II from the late empire, then Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Gorbachev, plus Boris Yeltsin for the collapse and post-Soviet Russia. The exam tests each leader's signature policies, such as the NEP, collectivization, de-Stalinization, détente and perestroika.
What were perestroika and glasnost?
Perestroika ("restructuring") was Mikhail Gorbachev's program to reform the Soviet economy and political system, and glasnost ("openness") loosened censorship and allowed public criticism. Both fall under Reform and Collapse Under Gorbachev, the largest area on the DSST History of the Soviet Union exam at 18%.
Does DSST History of the Soviet Union cover Russia after 1991?
Yes. Post-Soviet Russia is one of the five subtopics under Reform and Collapse Under Gorbachev (18%), alongside the end of the USSR in December 1991 and the reemergence of the nationalities issue.
Does the exam cover Russia before the revolution?
Yes. The Russian Empire from 1860 to 1914 is 10% of the exam, including Alexander II's reforms, industrialization and the revolutionary movements.
Can I take DSST History of the Soviet Union online?
Yes. DSST exams can be taken at a test center or online with a remote Prometric proctor.
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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.