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Advanced English Composition DSST Study Guide

The four areas of the outline with unofficial practice test questions on each, from thesis and drafting to citing sources.

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"The plan will probably reduce costs." In Toulmin's terms, what is the word "probably"?

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with Prometric. Bank checked October 14, 2026.

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All 50 questions with answers

Types of writing 2

  • A student's response to a documentary judges how well the film makes its case and gives reasons for that judgment. Which academic purpose is this? Answer: Evaluation. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 6.1 "Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content". DSST outline area I (4%), d. Critical response
  • Which set names the four basic components of a narrative? Answer: Plot, character, conflict and theme. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 10.1 "Narration". DSST outline area I (4%), a. Narrative

Elements of effective writing 16

  • A classmate's peer review suggests cutting the writer's favorite example. Who decides whether to cut it? Answer: The writer, after weighing the feedback. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 8.4 "Revising and Editing". DSST outline area II (32%), D. Revising and editing
  • A paragraph takes the main points of three studies and links them to make a point none of them makes alone. What is its purpose? Answer: To synthesize. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 6.1 "Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content". DSST outline area II (32%), A. Audience and purpose analysis
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Elements of effective writing, continued

  • A persuasive paper ranks three reasons from weakest to strongest. Which method of organization is this? Answer: Order of importance. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 9.3 "Organizing Your Writing". DSST outline area II (32%), C. Content generation and drafting
  • A report for town residents explains every technical term; the version for engineers does not. Which fact about the audience drove the change? Answer: Their prior knowledge. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 6.1 "Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content". DSST outline area II (32%), A. Audience and purpose analysis
  • A topic sentence holds a main idea and one more thing. What? Answer: A controlling idea, the writer's stance. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 6.2 "Effective Means for Writing a Paragraph". DSST outline area II (32%), C. Content generation and drafting
  • A writer cuts a paragraph that wanders off the thesis and moves another one earlier. Which stage of the writing process is this? Answer: Revising. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 8.4 "Revising and Editing". DSST outline area II (32%), D. Revising and editing
  • "After reading the study, the conclusion seemed weak." What is wrong with this sentence? Answer: A dangling modifier. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 2.7 "Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers". DSST outline area II (32%), C. Content generation and drafting
  • Every sentence in a paragraph belongs to its one main idea. Which quality does the paragraph have? Answer: Unity. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 8.4 "Revising and Editing". DSST outline area II (32%), D. Revising and editing
  • For five minutes a student types every thought about her topic as it arrives and never goes back to fix a word. Which prewriting strategy is she using? Answer: Freewriting. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 8.1 "Apply Prewriting Models". DSST outline area II (32%), B. Pre-writing strategies
  • How does a sentence outline differ from a topic outline? Answer: Each entry is a complete sentence. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 8.2 "Outlining". DSST outline area II (32%), C. Content generation and drafting
  • "Mass media" is too broad for a four-page essay. Breaking it into subtopics and choosing one is called what? Answer: Narrowing the focus. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 8.1 "Apply Prewriting Models". DSST outline area II (32%), B. Pre-writing strategies
  • "The report was accurate, thorough and had good organization." Which revision repairs the sentence? Answer: The report was accurate, thorough and well organized. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 7.3 "Parallelism". DSST outline area II (32%), C. Content generation and drafting
  • Sentence structure, word choice, punctuation and the level of formality together tell a reader what about a piece of writing? Answer: Its tone. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 6.1 "Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content". DSST outline area II (32%), A. Audience and purpose analysis
  • What is true of a working thesis statement? Answer: It may be revised as the writing goes on. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 8.2 "Outlining". DSST outline area II (32%), C. Content generation and drafting
  • Which sentence punctuates the conjunctive adverb "therefore" correctly between two complete sentences? Answer: The sample was small; therefore, the findings are tentative. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 7.2 "Coordination and Subordination". DSST outline area II (32%), C. Content generation and drafting
  • Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? What are these six prompts called when used to explore a topic? Answer: The 5WH questions. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 8.1 "Apply Prewriting Models". DSST outline area II (32%), B. Pre-writing strategies

Reading and writing arguments 16

  • A columnist rewrites an opponent's modest proposal as an extreme one and then knocks the extreme version down. Which fallacy is this? Answer: Straw man. Source: Wikipedia, "Straw man". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: logic
  • A student writing about a 1912 strike reads a striker's diary and a 2015 history of the strike. Which is the secondary source? Answer: The 2015 history. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 11.4 "Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: primary versus secondary sources
  • "Although a bike lane will not end congestion, it is a sound first step." What is the opening clause doing? Answer: Making a concession that limits the argument. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 10.9 "Persuasion". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: considering other viewpoints
  • An audience is known to doubt the writer's position. What does the writer most need? Answer: A wide range of evidence. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 10.9 "Persuasion". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: reception and implications
  • An essay argues from a chain of reasons and statistics. Which of Aristotle's appeals is it using? Answer: Logos. Source: Wikipedia, "Modes of persuasion". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: logic
  • An essay claims a diet works for everyone and offers only the story of the writer's uncle. What is the weakness of this evidence? Answer: One personal case may not be typical. Source: Wikipedia, "Anecdotal evidence". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: anecdotes
  • "The bridge opened in 1931" and "The bridge is the city's finest landmark." How do these two statements differ? Answer: The first is a fact; the second is an opinion. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 10.9 "Persuasion". DSST outline area III (31%), A. Elements of arguments: claims support
  • In an essay, what is primary support? Answer: The most important points used to support the thesis. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 9.2 "Writing Body Paragraphs". DSST outline area III (31%), A. Elements of arguments: main points (sub claims)
  • In Toulmin's model, what is a warrant? Answer: The statement that licenses the step from evidence to claim. Source: Wikipedia, "Stephen Toulmin", section "The Toulmin model of argument". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: warrants and assumptions
  • "Library fines should end, unless the book is never returned." In Toulmin's terms, what is the "unless" clause? Answer: A rebuttal. Source: Wikipedia, "Stephen Toulmin", section "The Toulmin model of argument". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: supporting or opposing data
  • "The mayor is trustworthy because he is an honest man." What is the flaw? Answer: Circular reasoning. Source: Wikipedia, "Circular reasoning". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: logic
  • "The plan will probably reduce costs." In Toulmin's terms, what is the word "probably"? Answer: A qualifier. Source: Wikipedia, "Stephen Toulmin", section "The Toulmin model of argument". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: warrants and assumptions
  • "Rents rose 20 percent and wages did not, so housing is less affordable." Which part is the conclusion? Answer: Housing is less affordable. Source: Wikipedia, "Argument". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: identifying conclusions
  • Where and how should a persuasive essay deal with the opposing side? Answer: Address it respectfully, and early. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 10.9 "Persuasion". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: considering other viewpoints
  • Which approach to argument begins by stating the other side's view fairly and looks for common ground? Answer: Rogerian argument. Source: Wikipedia, "Rogerian argument". DSST outline area III (31%), B. Argument analysis: considering other viewpoints
  • Which sentence is the strongest thesis for an argument essay? Answer: Cities should drop parking minimums because they raise housing costs. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 9.1 "Developing a Strong, Clear Thesis Statement". DSST outline area III (31%), A. Elements of arguments: thesis (main claim)

Using secondary sources 16

  • A database search for "solar energy" returns 40,000 results. What does adding "and tax credits" to the search do? Answer: Limits results to items with both terms. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 11.4 "Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information". DSST outline area IV (33%), a. Finding sources: appropriate sources
  • A paper on smartphone habits cites a study from 2009. Which test of reliability does this source most likely fail? Answer: Currency. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 11.4 "Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information". DSST outline area IV (33%), b. Evaluating sources: credibility
  • A student cannot find articles on her topic. Besides the catalog and the periodical databases, whom does the textbook advise her to consult? Answer: A reference librarian. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 11.4 "Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information". DSST outline area IV (33%), a. Finding sources: appropriate sources
  • A website on sugar and health is run by a soft-drink trade group. Which question about the source matters most here? Answer: What is its purpose, and who is its audience? Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 11.4 "Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information". DSST outline area IV (33%), b. Evaluating sources: credibility
  • A writer drops six words from the middle of a quoted sentence. Which mark shows the gap? Answer: An ellipsis. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 12.1 "Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper". DSST outline area IV (33%), c. Using sources: quotation
  • The Chicago Manual of Style offers two systems of documentation. One is author-date. What is the other? Answer: Notes and bibliography. Source: Wikipedia, "The Chicago Manual of Style". DSST outline area IV (33%), d. Citing and documenting: documentation style
  • How often should a research paper quote its sources directly? Answer: Sparingly, when the exact words matter. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 12.1 "Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper". DSST outline area IV (33%), c. Using sources: quotation
  • In a summary written in her own words, a writer keeps one clinical term exactly as the source has it, because near-synonyms mean something different. Is this acceptable? Answer: Yes: a summary may keep a source's specialized terms. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 12.1 "Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper". DSST outline area IV (33%), c. Using sources: summary
  • In APA style, what does the in-text citation of a short direct quotation give? Answer: Author, year and page number. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 13.2 "Citing and Referencing Techniques". DSST outline area IV (33%), d. Citing and documenting: in-text
  • In MLA style, a citation in the body of an essay points the reader to a section at the end. What is that section called? Answer: Works cited. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 13.4 "Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style". DSST outline area IV (33%), d. Citing and documenting: documentation style
  • Research sources may be print, electronic or human. Which is a human source? Answer: An interview with a city planner. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 11.4 "Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information". DSST outline area IV (33%), a. Finding sources: types of sources
  • What does reference management software do for a writer? Answer: Stores citations and formats them in a chosen style. Source: Wikipedia, "Reference management software". DSST outline area IV (33%), d. Citing and documenting: software apps
  • What makes a paraphrase acceptable? Answer: Its own words and sentence structure, with a citation. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 12.1 "Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper". DSST outline area IV (33%), c. Using sources: paraphrase
  • What sets a scholarly journal article apart from a magazine feature? Answer: Experts in the field reviewed it before publication. Source: Wikipedia, "Scholarly peer review". DSST outline area IV (33%), b. Evaluating sources: credibility
  • Which statement needs no citation in a research paper? Answer: A well-known fact found in many sources. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 12.1 "Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper". DSST outline area IV (33%), c. Using sources: quotation
  • With thirty possible sources and little time, what is the quick way to find out which ones bear on the research question? Answer: Skimming them with the question in mind. Source: Writing for Success (open textbook, Saylor Academy copy), section 11.4 "Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information". DSST outline area IV (33%), b. Evaluating sources: relevance

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the exam content outline in the DSST fact sheet for Principles of Advanced English Composition (Prometric, Rev 1/2026, https://getcollegecredit.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Principles-of-Advanced-English-Composition-1.pdf, read 2026-10-14): Types of Writing 4%, Elements of Effective Writing 32%, Reading and Writing Arguments 31%, Using Secondary Sources 33%. This bank holds 50: 2, 16, 16 and 16, the nearest whole numbers to those shares. Every fact was read on 2026-10-14 on the public page named under its question: the open textbook Writing for Success (the Saylor Academy copy) and Wikipedia. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

This free Advanced English Composition DSST study guide pairs the exam's four outline areas with 50 practice questions of our own. It is unofficial and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Prometric, which owns the DSST exams.

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What to study

The fact sheet (Rev 1/2026) lists four areas: types of writing 4%, elements of effective writing 32%, reading and writing arguments 31%, and using secondary sources 33%. The bank holds 2, 16, 16 and 16.

Inside the three large areas

Effective writing: audience and purpose, pre-writing, drafting, paragraphs, sentences, revising and peer review. Arguments: claims, support, logic, warrants and conclusions. Sources: finding, evaluating, summary, paraphrase, quotation, and citing in MLA, APA and Chicago style.

  • Using secondary sources is the largest area at 33%: tell summary, paraphrase and quotation apart, and know what each style puts in a citation.

Questions and answers

Is there a Principles of Advanced English Composition DSST study guide?

The free official one is Prometric's fact sheet: the outline, its percentages, sample questions and three reference textbooks. This page adds practice questions on each area, and every answer names the open textbook section or Wikipedia article it was checked on.

How many questions are on the Advanced English Composition DSST?

64 questions, some associated with passages, in 2 hours. The questions here stand alone, without passages, and exam mode draws 32 of them for 60 minutes, which is the same pace.

What score do you need on the DSST Advanced English Composition exam?

The fact sheet gives a score, not a percent: ACE recommends 3 semester hours of upper-level baccalaureate credit at 400 or above. Whether that credit counts toward your degree is your college's decision.

Are these real DSST Advanced English Composition questions?

No: each of the 50 was written for this guide from one of the outline's four areas, and none repeats or rewords an exam item or a fact sheet sample. A score here is practice, not a forecast.

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