Credential type: admission or placement test · verified on the issuer's site September 19, 2026 issuer page
The DSST Technical Writing exam certifies competency in professional communication by testing various aspects of modern workplace documentation. Administered by DSST, the computer-based multiple-choice exam features 100 questions and a duration of 120 minutes. It evaluates proficiency in workplace communication, document structure, writing mechanics, research, and design methodologies for professional environments. This assessment ensures that candidates possess the necessary skills to create effective, clear, and accurate technical documents suitable for diverse business and industrial settings.
Candidates seeking college credit for professional writing skills. This exam suits students and professionals who prepare technical documents, manage workplace correspondence, and edit business reports to ensure clarity and accuracy in professional settings.
Review core writing principles, document design standards, and editing rules before your test date. Practice analyzing target audiences, conducting research, and structuring various business documents effectively. Check with DSST for the current certification path and any updates to the testing requirements to ensure your study plan remains aligned with the latest exam content. Consistent practice with professional writing samples will help you master the necessary communication standards required for success.
This domain covers the workflow of technical documents, tracking writing stages from initial prewriting models and outlines to drafting and final production phases to ensure a logical structure and professional clarity.
This section focuses on identifying primary, secondary, and hidden audiences, analyzing their specific informational needs, and successfully utilizing bias-free language across various communication mediums to reach the intended target reader effectively and professionally.
This area involves information literacy, evaluation of primary and secondary sources, and executing advanced search strategies using databases and library systems to gather accurate data for professional technical writing projects and reports.
This domain encompasses page layout, design concepts, typography, graphics integration, and formatting principles required for professional technical manuals and informational websites to improve readability and visual appeal for the end user.
This section addresses common workplace correspondence including emails, professional memos, letters, employment documents, detailed proposals, and formal reports utilized in business environments to convey information clearly to diverse professional stakeholders and teams.
This domain involves reviewing drafts for clarity, revising content and organizational flow, checking grammatical structures, verifying factual information, and proofreading text to ensure the final document meets high professional standards and requirements.
Arrive at the testing center well-prepared for a computer-based format. Manage your 120 minutes carefully across all 100 questions to ensure you finish the entire exam within the allotted time frame provided by the center.
The exam consists of exactly 100 multiple-choice questions administered in a secure, computer-based format to test your professional communication skills and technical writing knowledge effectively.
The official passing score required to successfully pass this certification exam is set at 400 points, which candidates must achieve to earn their college credit.
Test takers are given a total duration of 120 minutes to complete all questions included in the evaluation, so careful time management is very important.
The exam price is $85 for regular civilian candidates, but it is completely free for eligible military personnel who utilize the available DANTES funding options.
This index page was compiled using official DSST exam guides and educational resources covering professional technical communication to provide accurate information for all potential test takers.