A scholar defines religion by the role it plays in people's lives, not by any particular belief. What kind of definition is this?Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "The Concept of Religion". DSST outline area I (5%), b. approaches to religion (descriptive, historical)
The anthropologist Edward Burnett Tylor proposed a "minimal definition" of religion. What did he say was its key characteristic?Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "The Concept of Religion". DSST outline area I (5%), b. approaches to religion (descriptive, historical)
How did the sociologist Emile Durkheim define religion?Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "The Concept of Religion". DSST outline area I (5%), b. approaches to religion (descriptive, historical)
Ninian Smart's "anatomy of religion" describes a religion through seven dimensions. Which of these is one of the seven?Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "The Concept of Religion". DSST outline area I (5%), a. basic dimensions of religion
What marks natural theology off from revealed theology?Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Natural Theology". DSST outline area I (5%), b. approaches to religion (natural and revealed theology)
Show all 100 questions (95 more)
Indigenous religions 5
In the Babylonian creation myth, the Enuma Elish, which god defeats Tiamat and makes the sky from her body?World History Encyclopedia, "Mesopotamian Religion". DSST outline area II (5%), d. Native Middle Eastern traditions (Mesopotamian)
In the religion of the Hopi and other Puebloan peoples, what are kachinas?World History Encyclopedia, "Kachina Cult". DSST outline area II (5%), a. Native North American traditions (Hopi)
What are the orishas of the Yoruba religion in West Africa?World History Encyclopedia, "Orisha". DSST outline area II (5%), c. Native West African traditions (Yoruba)
Who was the most important god of the Incas, from whom the Inca ruler was held to descend?World History Encyclopedia, "Inca Religion". DSST outline area II (5%), b. Native Central and South American traditions (Incan)
The word "shaman" comes from saman, a word of the Tungus people. Where do the Tungus live, and what does the word mean there?Penn Museum, Expedition Magazine 46.1 (2004), Edith Turner, "Shamanism and Spirit". DSST outline area II (5%), e. Central Asian and Siberian traditions
Hinduism 11
The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between which two figures?Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "The Bhagavad Gita". DSST outline area III (11%), c. doctrine and practice
From what is the word "Hindu" derived?BBC Religions, "Hinduism at a glance". DSST outline area III (11%), a. historical development (terminology)
How does Hinduism differ from most other religions in its origins?BBC Religions, "Hinduism at a glance". DSST outline area III (11%), a. historical development
In the classical scheme of four varnas, which class are the intellectuals and priests who perform religious rituals?BBC Religions, "Hindu concepts". DSST outline area III (11%), c. doctrine and practice (the caste system)
In the Hindu trimurti, Brahma creates the universe and Shiva destroys it. What is the role of Vishnu?BBC Religions, "Vishnu". DSST outline area III (11%), b. major traditions (theistic paths)
Three great Hindu traditions took shape under the Gupta Empire. On which deity is Shaktism focused?BBC Religions, "History of Hinduism". DSST outline area III (11%), b. major traditions (theistic paths)
The Vedas were first committed to memory and passed on by word of mouth from teacher to student. What does the term "veda" mean?Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Hindu Philosophy". DSST outline area III (11%), a. historical development (Vedic period, terminology)
What does "atman" mean in Hinduism?BBC Religions, "Hindu concepts". DSST outline area III (11%), c. doctrine and practice
What is Diwali?BBC Religions, "Diwali". DSST outline area III (11%), c. doctrine and practice (festivals)
What is moksha?BBC Religions, "Hindu concepts". DSST outline area III (11%), c. doctrine and practice (moksha)
What is the literal meaning of the Sanskrit word "karma"?BBC Religions, "Hindu concepts". DSST outline area III (11%), c. doctrine and practice
Buddhism 11
After luxury and then harsh asceticism both failed him, Siddhartha chose the "Middle Way". What is it?BBC Religions, "Buddhism at a glance". DSST outline area IV (11%), a. historical development (terminology)
The first of the Four Noble Truths is that there is suffering. What is the fourth?Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Buddha". DSST outline area IV (11%), c. doctrine and practice (Four Noble Truths)
In the traditional account, what did Siddhartha come to see that led him to renounce his future as a prince?Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Buddha". DSST outline area IV (11%), a. historical development (life of Buddha)
Mahayana Buddhism holds up the bodhisattva as the ideal way to live. What does "bodhisattva" mean?BBC Religions, "Mahayana Buddhism". DSST outline area IV (11%), b. major traditions (Mahayana)
The Pali canon of Theravada Buddhism is called the Tipitaka. What does the name mean?BBC Religions, "Theravada Buddhism". DSST outline area IV (11%), c. doctrine and practice
People often take Tibetan Buddhism to be the same as one branch of Buddhism, which it in fact teaches together with the other vehicles. Which branch?BBC Religions, "Tibetan Buddhism". DSST outline area IV (11%), b. major traditions (Vajrayana)
What do Buddhists commemorate at Wesak (Vesak)?BBC Religions, "Wesak". DSST outline area IV (11%), c. doctrine and practice (festivals)
What does the title "Buddha" literally mean?Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Buddha". DSST outline area IV (11%), a. historical development (terminology)
Where was Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, born?Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Buddha". DSST outline area IV (11%), a. historical development (life of Buddha)
Which division of the Noble Eightfold Path means speaking truthfully and avoiding slander, gossip and abusive speech?BBC Religions, "The Four Noble Truths". DSST outline area IV (11%), c. doctrine and practice (Noble Eight-Fold Path)
Which school of Buddhism has a name meaning "the doctrine of the elders" and has its greatest strength in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Burma?BBC Religions, "Theravada Buddhism". DSST outline area IV (11%), b. major traditions (Theravada)
Confucianism 5
Confucian teaching names "five relationships" as the models for all others. Which pair is one of them?Columbia University, Asia for Educators, "Introduction to Confucian Thought". DSST outline area V (5%), b. doctrine and practice (the five relationships)
Confucius lived from 551 to 479 BCE. In which period of Chinese history does that fall?World History Encyclopedia, "Confucianism". DSST outline area V (5%), a. historical development (life of Confucius)
In Confucian thought, which virtue is the foundation for all the others?Columbia University, Asia for Educators, "Introduction to Confucian Thought". DSST outline area V (5%), b. doctrine and practice (filial piety)
Which Confucian virtue is named by the Chinese word "ren"?Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Confucius". DSST outline area V (5%), b. doctrine and practice (humaneness)
Which early text preserves dialogues and stories about Confucius?Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Confucius". DSST outline area V (5%), a. historical development (classical Confucianism, terminology)
Daoism 4
On one scholarly account, Taoism as an organized religion began in 142 CE with a revelation of the Tao to Zhang Daoling. What did he become?BBC Religions, "History of Taoism". DSST outline area VI (4%), a. historical development
What do Taoists say about describing the Tao?BBC Religions, "The Tao". DSST outline area VI (4%), b. doctrine and practice (Dao)
What does the Daoist teaching of wu-wei (non-action), ask of a person?Columbia University, Asia for Educators, "Introduction to Daoism". DSST outline area VI (4%), b. doctrine and practice (wu wei)
Which book of eighty-one chapters is Laozi supposed to have written?Columbia University, Asia for Educators, "Introduction to Daoism". DSST outline area VI (4%), a. historical development (Lao Tzu)
Shintoism 4
After the Second World War, Shinto ceased to be the state religion of Japan, dismantled by three key documents. What did the Imperial Rescript of 1946 do?BBC Religions, "Shinto and nationalism". DSST outline area VII (4%), a. historical development (WWII)
In Shinto, what are kami?World History Encyclopedia, "Shinto". DSST outline area VII (4%), b. doctrine and practice (kami)
Which form of Shinto began in the 19th century and has 13 major independent sects recognised by the Japanese government?BBC Religions, "Shinto subdivisions". DSST outline area VII (4%), b. doctrine and practice (three forms of Shinto)
The word Shinto, "the Way of the kami", was first used only after the sixth century. Why was a name then needed?Columbia University, Asia for Educators, "Shinto". DSST outline area VII (4%), a. historical development (terminology)
Judaism 11
How do Jews mark Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement?BBC Religions, "Yom Kippur". DSST outline area VIII (11%), c. doctrine and practice (festivals)
How many European Jews were murdered in the Holocaust?United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Holocaust Encyclopedia, "Introduction to the Holocaust". DSST outline area VIII (11%), a. historical development (the Holocaust)
In the Bible's account, whom did God choose as father of a people special to God?BBC Religions, "History of Judaism". DSST outline area VIII (11%), a. historical development (ancient Israelites)
In the early 6th century BCE the first temple was destroyed and the Jewish leaders were killed. Where were many Jews then sent into exile?BBC Religions, "History of Judaism". DSST outline area VIII (11%), a. historical development (First Temple period)
In which country, and in which year, did the Reform movement in Judaism begin?BBC Religions, "Reform Judaism". DSST outline area VIII (11%), b. denominations (Reform)
Reconstructionism owes its inspiration to Mordecai Kaplan. How did he say Judaism should be understood?Jewish Virtual Library (American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise), "Reconstructionism: Background and Overview". DSST outline area VIII (11%), b. denominations (Reconstructionist)
The Talmud is made up of two parts. What are they?BBC Religions, "The Talmud". DSST outline area VIII (11%), c. doctrine and practice (Talmud)
What is the Torah, the Jewish Written Law?Jewish Virtual Library (American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise), "The Written Law - Torah". DSST outline area VIII (11%), c. doctrine and practice (Torah)
When does the Jewish Sabbath begin and end?BBC Religions, "Sabbath". DSST outline area VIII (11%), c. doctrine and practice (rituals)
Where does Conservative (Masorti) Judaism stand among the Jewish denominations?BBC Religions, "Conservative Judaism". DSST outline area VIII (11%), b. denominations (Conservative, Masorti)
Which king of Israel built the first great temple, on which Jewish worship was then focused?BBC Religions, "History of Judaism". DSST outline area VIII (11%), a. historical development (First Temple period)
Christianity 17
The apostle Paul is famous for a conversion that took place on a journey. On the road to which city?BBC Religions, "Paul". DSST outline area IX (17%), a. historical development (early church)
For what form of baptism are Baptist churches known?BBC Religions, "Baptist churches". DSST outline area IX (17%), b. major traditions (Protestant)
How long does the season of Lent last, and what is its first day?The Church of England, "Lent, Holy Week and Easter". DSST outline area IX (17%), c. doctrine and practice (liturgical calendar)
On which day does Holy Week begin?The Church of England, "Lent, Holy Week and Easter". DSST outline area IX (17%), c. doctrine and practice (liturgical calendar)
What do Christians believe about Jesus in relation to the Old Testament?BBC Religions, "Christianity at a glance". DSST outline area IX (17%), a. historical development (life of Jesus)
What does Easter, the most important Christian festival, celebrate?BBC Religions, "Easter". DSST outline area IX (17%), c. doctrine and practice (crucifixion and resurrection)
What does Pentecostalism emphasise?BBC Religions, "Pentecostalism". DSST outline area IX (17%), b. major traditions (Protestant)
What does the Eucharist (Holy Communion, or Mass) re-enact?BBC Religions, "The Eucharist". DSST outline area IX (17%), c. doctrine and practice (rituals)
What happened in the Great Schism of 1054?BBC Religions, "Eastern Orthodox Church". DSST outline area IX (17%), a. historical development (medieval church)
What is the doctrine of the Trinity?BBC Religions, "The Trinity". DSST outline area IX (17%), c. doctrine and practice (Trinity)
Which council, called in 325 AD, formulated and codified the Christian faith?BBC Religions, "History of Christianity". DSST outline area IX (17%), a. historical development (early church)
Which festival is called the Christian church's birthday?BBC Religions, "Pentecost". DSST outline area IX (17%), a. historical development (terminology)
Which four books of the New Testament are the Gospels, the story of Jesus?BBC Religions, "The Bible". DSST outline area IX (17%), c. doctrine and practice (Old and New Testaments)
Who founded the Methodist movement, preaching to crowds outdoors from 1739?BBC Religions, "Methodist Church". DSST outline area IX (17%), b. major traditions (Protestant)
Who is the Eastern Orthodox Churches' nominal head, and how much authority does he have?BBC Religions, "Eastern Orthodox Church". DSST outline area IX (17%), b. major traditions (Orthodox)
Why do Catholics hold that the Pope has authority over the church?BBC Religions, "Roman Catholic Church". DSST outline area IX (17%), b. major traditions (Roman Catholic)
With which publication, on October 31, 1517, did Martin Luther begin the Protestant Reformation?Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Martin Luther (1483-1546)". DSST outline area IX (17%), a. historical development (the Reformation)
Islam 17
About what share of the world's Muslims are Sunni?BBC Religions, "Sunni and Shi'a". DSST outline area X (17%), b. major traditions (Sunni and Shi'a)
After the death of the Prophet, the larger group of Muslims chose a close Companion as Caliph. Who was he?BBC Religions, "Sunni and Shi'a". DSST outline area X (17%), b. major traditions (Sunni and Shi'a)
Between which years did Islamic Spain last?BBC Religions, "Muslim Spain". DSST outline area X (17%), a. historical development (Golden Age)
How many chapters, each called a sura, does the Qur'an contain?PBS, Islam: Empire of Faith, "The Koran". DSST outline area X (17%), c. doctrine and practice (Qur'an)
How often is a Muslim who is able expected to make the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca?PBS, Islam: Empire of Faith, "Pilgrimage (Hajj)". DSST outline area X (17%), c. doctrine and practice (Five Pillars of Islam)
In the traditional account of Muhammad's first revelation, a voice ordered him to recite. Who did the voice say it was?PBS, Islam: Empire of Faith, "Muhammad". DSST outline area X (17%), a. historical development (life of Muhammad)
Muslims have six main beliefs. Which of these is one of them?BBC Religions, "Basic articles of faith". DSST outline area X (17%), c. doctrine and practice (predestination, resurrection and judgment)
What do Shi'a Muslims in particular commemorate on the day of Ashura?BBC Religions, "Ashura". DSST outline area X (17%), b. major traditions (Shi'a)
What does the festival of Eid ul Adha remember?BBC Religions, "Eid ul Adha". DSST outline area X (17%), c. doctrine and practice (festivals)
What is Sufism?BBC Religions, "Sufism". DSST outline area X (17%), b. major traditions (Sufi)
What is the literal meaning of "jihad"?BBC Religions, "Jihad". DSST outline area X (17%), c. doctrine and practice (jihad)
What is the shahada, the first Pillar of Islam?PBS, Islam: Empire of Faith, "Belief (Iman)". DSST outline area X (17%), c. doctrine and practice (Five Pillars of Islam)
Where and about when was the Prophet Muhammad born?PBS, Islam: Empire of Faith, "Muhammad". DSST outline area X (17%), a. historical development (life of Muhammad)
Which city became the capital of the Ottoman Empire after Sultan Mehmet II conquered it in 1453?BBC Religions, "Ottoman Empire". DSST outline area X (17%), a. historical development (Ottomans)
Which Muslim empire governed the greater part of India and Pakistan during the 1500s and 1600s?BBC Religions, "Mughal Empire". DSST outline area X (17%), a. historical development (Mughals)
Why does the Islamic calendar begin in the year 622?BBC Religions, "Prophet Muhammad". DSST outline area X (17%), a. historical development (life of Muhammad)
Zakat is the systematic giving of what share of one's wealth each year for the benefit of the poor?BBC Religions, "Zakat". DSST outline area X (17%), c. doctrine and practice (Five Pillars of Islam)
Religious movements and syncretism 10
According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, how did its founder Joseph Smith receive the Book of Mormon?BBC Religions, "Joseph Smith". DSST outline area XI (10%), c. contemporary religious movements (Mormonism)
Many Christian denominations teach one doctrine about the nature of God that Jehovah's Witnesses reject. Which doctrine?Jehovah's Witnesses (jw.org), "Is God a Trinity?". DSST outline area XI (10%), c. contemporary religious movements (Jehovah's Witnesses)
What characterised the mystery cults of the ancient Greek and Roman world?World History Encyclopedia, "Mystery Cults". DSST outline area XI (10%), a. before 1000 C.E. (Mystery Cults)
What does Zoroastrianism call its one supreme deity, the creator and sustainer of all things?World History Encyclopedia, "Zoroastrianism". DSST outline area XI (10%), a. before 1000 C.E. (Zoroastrianism)
What is the highest principle of Jain living?BBC Religions, "Jainism at a glance". DSST outline area XI (10%), a. before 1000 C.E. (Jainism)
Who developed Scientology?Church of Scientology International, "What is Scientology?". DSST outline area XI (10%), c. contemporary religious movements (Scientology)
Who founded Sikhism in the Punjab?BBC Religions, "Sikhism at a glance". DSST outline area XI (10%), b. after 1000 C.E. (Sikhism)
Who founded the Bahá'í faith in 1863?BBC Religions, "Bahá'í at a glance". DSST outline area XI (10%), b. after 1000 C.E. (Baha'i)
Who led the Mormon migration to Salt Lake City in 1847?BBC Religions, "Mormons at a glance". DSST outline area XI (10%), c. contemporary religious movements (Mormonism)
Why do Sikhs show their scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, the respect due to a human Guru?BBC Religions, "Sikhism at a glance". DSST outline area XI (10%), b. after 1000 C.E. (Sikhism)
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the content outline of the DSST Introduction to World Religions fact sheet (Prometric, revised 1/2026, https://getcollegecredit.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Intro-World-Relig-1.pdf, read 2026-10-08): definition and origins of religion 5%, indigenous religions 5%, Hinduism 11%, Buddhism 11%, Confucianism 5%, Daoism 4%, Shintoism 4%, Judaism 11%, Christianity 17%, Islam 17%, religious movements and syncretism 10%. The bank holds 5, 5, 11, 11, 5, 4, 4, 11, 17, 17 and 10 questions: the same shares of 100. Each fact was read on 2026-10-08 in the public page named under its question: BBC Religions (an archived BBC guide; 60 questions), the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the World History Encyclopedia, the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Columbia University's Asia for Educators, PBS (Islam: Empire of Faith), the Jewish Virtual Library, the Church of England, the Penn Museum's Expedition Magazine, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and, for one question each, the own pages of Jehovah's Witnesses and of the Church of Scientology on what they teach. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.
How it works
This free DSST World Religions practice test has 100 questions of our own, spread like the outline of the Introduction to World Religions exam. It is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Prometric, which owns the DSST program.
Read the full guide
What the exam covers
Prometric's fact sheet, revised 1/2026 and read October 8, 2026, lists eleven areas. Christianity and Islam take 17% each; Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism 11% each; religious movements 10%; the definition of religion, indigenous religions and Confucianism 5% each; Daoism and Shintoism 4% each. The bank has one question for every percent.
Where the answers come from
Each answer names the public page it was read in, most often the BBC's guide to religions or the World History Encyclopedia, so you can open the page and check.
Christianity and Islam together are a third of the exam. Start with those two if time is short.
The outline treats each tradition under the same heads: its history, its branches, then doctrine and practice.
Questions and answers
Are there other DSST Introduction to World Religions practice tests?
Yes. Prometric's fact sheet prints sample questions, and the DSST site says Prometric offers online practice exams of about 50 questions for most exam titles. This page is separate from both: every question here is our own.
Is there a DSST Introduction to World Religions study guide?
The fact sheet is the free one. It gives the outline with its percentages and a list of reference textbooks. The topic filter on this page follows the same eleven areas, so it works as a checklist.
How many questions are on the DSST World Religions exam?
100 questions in 2 hours, by the fact sheet, and exam mode here keeps both numbers. The American Council on Education recommends 3 semester hours of lower-level credit for a score of 400, and each college sets its own policy.
Are these questions from the real exam?
No. Each was written for this page from the published outline and a public source. None is copied or reworded from the exam or from the fact sheet's sample questions, and a score here does not predict a score there.