DSST Technical Writing Exam Outline

Updated: Mar 16

Military students and online adult learners now have the opportunity to take the DSST Technical Writing exam.

This blog post outlines what you can expect on the test, from the basics of grammar and style to creating various technical documents.

Table of Contents

1. Theory and Practice of Technical Writing

Theory and Practice of Technical Writing (19% - 21%)

Understanding contexts and exigence: It is necessary to conduct research and make sure that the information you give the reader is valid.

Stakeholder analysis: You need to test it to ensure it is understandable and the instructions given are understandable and doable to the reader.

Establishing the appropriate voice: The technical writer must know their audience early in the writing process.

Purpose, Content, and Organizational Patterns of Common Types of Technical Documents (29% - 31%)

Informing: Reports communicate information compiled through research, data analysis, and issues.

Information Design (29% - 31%)

Elements of information design: Graphics, report supplements, and other page design elements.

Information design strategies: The page design covers a wide range of reader aids, including white space, bullets or numbering, indentation, underlining, boldfacing, capitalization, headings, subheadings, and visual aids.

Technical Editing (19% - 21%)

Revising: Assure the accuracy of the information and that all elements are covered correctly and concisely.

Editing: Ensure they are complete and the reader can understand the simple instructions.

Assessing: Important not to assume the reader thinks like the author of the technical document.

The DSST Technical Writing exam is designed to measure your understanding of the theory and practice of technical writing.

If you want to take the exam, our course library can help you prepare.

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DSST Technical Writing Fact Sheet

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