DSST Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield DSST facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A researcher wants to estimate the average height of students at a university. She randomly selects 50 students. This is an example of: → Simple random sampling
2. The sacred scripture of Sikhism is called the: → Guru Granth Sahib
3. In environmental ethics, 'deep ecology' differs from mainstream environmentalism by: → Asserting that nature has intrinsic value independent of human interests
4. The 'span of control' concept in management refers to: → The number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise
5. Which quantum number describes the shape of an atomic orbital? → Angular momentum quantum number (l)
6. Which management function involves monitoring performance and taking corrective action to achieve organizational goals? → Controlling
7. The literary term 'in medias res' means a story begins: → In the middle of the action
8. Which professional attribute is most valued in introduction to computing within the DSST field? → Accountability and commitment to standards
9. The Central Limit Theorem states that the sampling distribution of the sample mean approaches normality as: → Sample size increases
10. What is the value of the integral ∫₀² (2x + 1) dx? → 6
11. In Fiedler's contingency model, leader effectiveness depends on matching the leader's style to situational: → Favorableness (degree of situational control)
12. In Buddhism, 'Nirvana' refers to which of the following? → Liberation from the cycle of suffering and rebirth
13. A trial balance is prepared primarily to verify what? → That total debits equal total credits
14. If P(A) = 0.4 and P(B) = 0.3 and A and B are independent, what is P(A and B)? → 0.12
15. Which law states that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume at constant temperature? → Boyle's Law
16. Which matrix operation is NOT generally commutative? → Matrix multiplication
17. Which accounting principle states that revenue should be recognized when earned, regardless of when cash is received? → Revenue Recognition Principle
18. A projectile is launched horizontally from a cliff. Which component of its velocity remains constant (ignoring air resistance)? → Horizontal velocity
19. Which of the following best describes a liability? → An obligation the company owes to outside parties
20. Which professional attribute is most valued in humanities within the DSST field? → Accountability and commitment to standards
21. What does 'resolution' refer to in the context of a display monitor? → The number of pixels displayed horizontally and vertically
22. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in what is now: → Nepal
23. The exclusionary rule, established in Mapp v. Ohio (1961), applies to which level of government? → Both federal and state courts
24. Which of the following is an example of an informal organization? → A group of coworkers who regularly lunch together and share information
25. What is the 10th term of the arithmetic sequence 3, 7, 11, 15, ...? → 39
26. Which playwright wrote 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'Othello'? → William Shakespeare
27. What is the value of continuing education in introduction to computing for DSST professionals? → It keeps professionals current with evolving standards and practices
28. What is the primary unit of structure and function in living organisms studied in DSST? → Cell
29. Thomas Hobbes argued that without a social contract, human life would be: → Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short
30. What is the sum of the infinite geometric series 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + ...? → 16