Hi,

My testing center has just started giving DSST tests on-line starting Oct. 2. They are no longer offering the paper tests. So I was wondering if anyone has taken the DSST Principles of Finance test on-line yet and what are your thoughts? I'm scheduled for the Finance test next week, and I feel like I'm a guinea pig.

Are the tests timed? If so, how long is allowed to take the test?
Can we use our own calculator, or must we use an on-line calculator?
Are the financial charts provided on-line?

This is one test that I would rather take via paper and pencil, because I like to point at and underline problems while I am working them and punching numbers into my calculater. I think I might make more errors when looking up at a screen and down at my calculatore and scratch paper.

Thanks,
Connie

Hi Connie,

Welcome to the board!

Since you are one of the first people to take this particular exam on a computer, you might want to contact either DANTES or your test center, and make sure that ALL your questions get answered. There is nothing worse than not knowing what to expect. Since this is a new thing, there just isn't very much feedback to be found from those who may have taken it before you.

As far as I can tell, the computer-based DSSTs are two hours long. Other than that, I can't provide you with any helpful information.

I wish you all the best of luck.

Please let us know how it goes,
Snazzlefrag

__________________
My name is Rob
So far, I have earned 139 credits (12 not used).

Excelsior College
- BS Psychology (15 credits - 5 courses/exams to go)
- BS Business (9 credits - 3 courses/exams to go)
____________
Upcoming: An UL business course of some kind.
In-progress: ENG100 English Comp (PFC)
Most Recently Completed: Tech Math I at PFC.
Exams/Courses Passed To Date (42):
- Courses (3): 1 ECE, 1 CSU, 1 PFC.
- Exams (39): 24 DANTES, 15 CLEP.

Connie,

Have you considered trying to find a test center that still offers the paper version? I think I would much rather have to drive two hours further afield to take the paper version, than do the Principles of Finance exam on the computer. Especially since it is so new, and there isn't much information available about it.

It might be worth considering,
Snazzlefrag

__________________
My name is Rob
So far, I have earned 139 credits (12 not used).

Excelsior College
- BS Psychology (15 credits - 5 courses/exams to go)
- BS Business (9 credits - 3 courses/exams to go)
____________
Upcoming: An UL business course of some kind.
In-progress: ENG100 English Comp (PFC)
Most Recently Completed: Tech Math I at PFC.
Exams/Courses Passed To Date (42):
- Courses (3): 1 ECE, 1 CSU, 1 PFC.
- Exams (39): 24 DANTES, 15 CLEP.

For some reason I had the idea that the paper versions were always going to be available if requested. I have to take this test and I was hoping to order the paper version. Does anyone know if this is true - can you still opt for the paper versions?

__________________
Dawn
Taking the Road Less Traveled
The Journey of A Thousand Miles Starts with The First CLEP
BS-Psychology - Excelsior College
Enrolled in the School of Business, BS in Accounting
After MIS I'll be halfway there!
72 CLEP Credits, 21 DSST Credits, 25 ECE Credits (Including Inf Lit), 6 TESC Credits, 2 FEMA Credits = 126 Total
Withholding 6 Credits for Accounting = 120 for Psychology
12 credits completed toward my accounting degree

Snazzlefrag,

Thanks for the welcome.

I called the DANTES a couple days ago and the person who answered the phone could not provide any info to me on what the test would be like. That didn't instill a lot of confidence in me. I also spoke to my testing center, and the lady I spoke with told me that the on-line Finance test is not timed, she claimed that if the test was not timed before, it would not be timed now. I don't trust that, and was hoping to hear the true scoop from someone who had taken the test already. Also, my testing center "thinks" I will be able to use my own calculator. So, it seems that no one at DSST or my testing center knows for sure what's up with this on-line DSST test.

I did check with a couple of other testing centers to find out if I could take the paper and pencil test through them, but they were administering the computer-based DSST tests only.

Maybe someone will be able to provide feedback before next Tuesday. If not, I'll provide feedback for the rest of the group after I take the test .

Thanks,
Connie

Hi Dawn,

None of the testing centers I spoke to would order a pencil and paper test for me. Once they went on-line with the DSST tests, they were no longer offering paper and pencil tests, even though that is what I was requesting. I practically begged (ok I did beg) my regular testing center to order the paper test for me and was turned down. The other 2 testing centers would not order the paper test for me either, but I didn't beg them, since begging did not help before.

If you find out differently, let us know.

Thanks,
Connie

Hi Dawn,

I suspect that it is up to the individual test center to decide whether they wish to offer paper, computerized, or both versions. I can see why a test center would prefer not to have to deal with mailing the tests back and forth, if given the choice. But my local test center is still offering paper-based versions, so I KNOW they are still out there. As the CBT versions gain more of a foothold, anyone who prefers paper-based exams is going to have to locate a test center that has chosen to keep offering them.

Personally, I would have been willing to drive quite a bit further for exams like Statistics, Finance, USSR, Civil War, Vietnam, Middle East, Money & Banking, Business Law II, etc., if it meant that I could take the untimed paper-based versions.

Of course, we are all spoiled brats! Those who come after us will likely just accept that DANTES are computer-based (like CLEPs), and that they have a two hour time limit.

It's just a big deal for us, because we have experienced what it is like when the DANTES exams are untimed.

"You don't miss what you never had",
Snazzlefrag

__________________
My name is Rob
So far, I have earned 139 credits (12 not used).

Excelsior College
- BS Psychology (15 credits - 5 courses/exams to go)
- BS Business (9 credits - 3 courses/exams to go)
____________
Upcoming: An UL business course of some kind.
In-progress: ENG100 English Comp (PFC)
Most Recently Completed: Tech Math I at PFC.
Exams/Courses Passed To Date (42):
- Courses (3): 1 ECE, 1 CSU, 1 PFC.
- Exams (39): 24 DANTES, 15 CLEP.

It's outrageous that DANTES hasn't released detailed information about the computer-based exams prior to their general release.

One of the very first things I do, when preparing for any exam, is to find out how long I have to complete it, how many questions will be on it, what material will be covered, whether I can bring a calculator (if applicable), what the minimum passing score is, what the software will look like, etc.

It's unfair and unreasonable of DANTES to expect people to act as 'guinea pigs' for their new exams without providing adequate information.

Until more information becomes available, I would move mountains to find a test center that provides the tried and tested paper-based exams.

Why on earth would I want to take an exam without knowing what to expect. It doesn't make sense.

They need to get their act together and make sure that examinees know EXACTLY what is involved BEFORE they take the exam.


Now I have to try and find my happy place again,
Snazzlefrag

__________________
My name is Rob
So far, I have earned 139 credits (12 not used).

Excelsior College
- BS Psychology (15 credits - 5 courses/exams to go)
- BS Business (9 credits - 3 courses/exams to go)
____________
Upcoming: An UL business course of some kind.
In-progress: ENG100 English Comp (PFC)
Most Recently Completed: Tech Math I at PFC.
Exams/Courses Passed To Date (42):
- Courses (3): 1 ECE, 1 CSU, 1 PFC.
- Exams (39): 24 DANTES, 15 CLEP.

Keep trying to find a paper-based center. Especially the smaller (lower volume) ones seem to be slower to get the computer set up for the new tests. My center said they had no plans to introduce the computer-based tests as long as they could still use the paper tests. So maybe you can find a small school (even an extension branch) that might have a similar approach. If you do end up taking it on the computer, we'll all be routing for you and hoping for some good feed-back. Good luck either way!

Update…I sent an email to the Dantes folks requesting some testing info for the web based Principles of Finance test. I received a call back from Janet McCormick. As I was asking questions, and expressing my dissatisfaction, she became somewhat defensive and short with me when I expressed my concern and dissatisfaction over her answers to some of my questions.

-The test is timed and is 2 hrs long.
-She says there will be 80-120 questions per test, depending on which test you get.
-Test takers CANNOT use their own calculators, must use the on-line calculator (plus, minus, multiply, divide only). She claims that if we use our own (financial) calculators we have an unfair advantage over other students who have already taken the test, and should it be found that I did not follow the rules, my test may be invalidated!!! (I think the only people at a disadvantage are those that get stuck with the web-based test).
-Material covered is the same as the paper version.
-Minimum passing score is the same as before.
-The software is set up as a question with 4 answer choices to pick from (same as the paper version).

I would love to hunt around for a paper test, but the reason I can’t is because this test is a prerequisite for a class I need to take next. My college temporarily waved the prerequisite so I could register for the class, but proof of my passing the test must arrive to them during the week of Oct 23, or I will be withdrawn from the class. There is no time to find a paper and pencil testing center, order the test, wait for it to arrive, take the test, pay extra to rush the results, and get it to my college in time to meet their deadline.

The crazy thing is that I did put in a request to order this test about three weeks ago, but the lady at the testing had a heart attach, and it turns out the test was never ordered. By the time I found out, they were no longer ordering the tests, and web-based was all they were offering. I had accepted this, until I was told by the Dantes representative that I could NOT use my own calculator. My personal calculator is how I learned to do all the problems; and I don’t have time to relearn how to do everything via another method before my test in the morning. I may have to postpone. This is insane!!!

She did say that we should send our complaints to them via email found on the web site http://www.getcollegecredit.com . I suggest we all fire off our complaints to them for our future test takers.

So good luck to whoever takes this web-based test in the future.

Connie

PS...I just got off the phone with a DSST testing center. I asked her if I would be allowed to use my own personal calculator. She put me on hold and when she came back, she told me that the way she is interpreting the info that she received on the web-based tests is that I COULD use my own personal calculater. So maybe each testing center will intrepret the info regarding the use of a personal calculator their own way.