How long does it take for DANTES/DSST's to get graded?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by LJinPA, Jan 12, 2005.

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  1. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    I'm mainly asking this because I took 3 DANTES exams on Saturday and one on Monday. (Environment and Humanity, Intro to Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, and Intro to Computing) My proctor said that she would send the tests all out Tuesday by UPS(I guess the UPS part is a good thing).......I NEED to pass 2 out of those 4 to graduate. Websites seem to vary as to how long it said they take- some said 6 weeks+, some said 2-4 weeks. The first 2 I took last month took exactly 2 weeks but it was the holidays so the mail was different.

    My advisor at TESC said something to me about calling Chauncy around after a little while and "double-backing" my grades to make sure things were recieved and if they will be sending the grades to the school (which they did last time). I'm not sure what he meant. I SURE HOPE they are secure in the mail (I had a take home final exam lost in the US mail years ago). He said when the credits are the last ones needed before graduation he recommends that people call. I doubt they would give any grades out over the phone, but I'd be at least relieved to know the tests arrived there safely. Also I wonder WHEN I should call...

    Any psychics on these boards??? Just Kidding :D
     
  2. marcuscarey

    marcuscarey New Member

    My experience was 4 weeks on average to get test results back. I always filled out the part the test form that automatically mailed the results to the institution of your choice.
     
  3. Papa Georgia

    Papa Georgia New Member

    I took a Dantes on Dec 8. Waited a couple of weeks to call Chauncey to see if they had received my test and they had not. The testing center was on break by that time and did not return until Jan 3. They had not mailed my test and needless to say , I am not a happy camper as I am still waiting on my results.

    The people at Chauncey were very helpful and at least I know they have my test. One other option might be to ask the testing center for a tracking number.

    This is the last exam that I need and I know exactly how you feel.

    Good luck on your exams.

    By the way, they won't give you a grade on the phone. If you can get your advisor to call them, they will tell him if you passed. COSC doesn't like to do this because of some past screw ups.
    After spending 40+ years in the banking and insurance business, I don't belive it until I see it in black and white anyway.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 12, 2005
  4. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    Hmmm... maybe then the TESTING CENTER has a lot to do with how long it takes. Maybe they wait for a bunch of students to take the tests so they can send a bunch at once. Otherwise I don't see why it would take too long for a computer to correct an exam.
    I took my last ones December 9 and got them back the 23rd(so did TESC)...

    Mine were sent out immediately but I also don't get the impression my testing center is as widely used. I took all my tests alone.

    Maybe I'll just e-mail my proctor and ask if she has the tracking numbers- I'll feel a LOT better just knowing that Chauncey has the tests- esp considering the icy weather this week.

    I think LOCATION might affect it- (How close your testing center and the recipient school is to Princton, NJ...? Chauncey is located in NJ.

    As for UPS I've been told they are just as reliable if not more than USPS.
     
  5. Ultimale

    Ultimale New Member

    My DSST took 3 weeks

    I took several Cantes/DSST exams and would receive my results in 3 weeks. It is a LONGGGGG 3 weeks too. Why can't they go online like CLEP?
     
  6. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    I checked the UPS website and it seems their mail is just as fast if not faster than USmail. I would think if something happened to them I would have been informed by now...

    Anyway to speed up the process I think I'm going to take some CLEPS, the easiest ones I can find, at least you get the grade right there. Maybe I'll take Intro to Sociology or something...
     
  7. Most definitely. I was lucky in that my testing center typically sent out the results the next day (and all this for only a $5 proctoring fee!). I got my last results back on 1/7 after taking the exam mid-Dec. For all of the DANTES tests I took it never took over 4 weeks.

    Cheers,
    Mark
     
  8. J Allen

    J Allen Member

    The post that said the "Testing center has a lot to do with how long it takes" is exactly right.

    I've taken DANTES exams at several different locations. If the center you go to doesn't administer many DANTES exams, they may wait until they have more than one test to send in. They are responsible for postage; hence the testing and administration fee, and can actually lose money offering these exams.

    I'm very happy to pay the testing fee, and wait for my grades, as the number of testing facilities seems to be dwindling. The DANTES exams are a BARGAIN, especially for upper level credit.

    Frustrating? YES. Worth it? DEFINATELY!
     
  9. LJinPA

    LJinPA New Member

    Pattern?

    OK I've been noticing a pattern here. I got some of my DSST's back friday and put them with the old ones- I took note of the processing dates, postmarks, and the dates I recieved them. I also called Chauncey after each test to make sure they arrived safely in the mail and that the testing center mailed it out.

    ANYWAY the first time I took a DSST the processing date was the Wednesday after I took the test and I recieved it the Thursday of the next week. (2 weeks total)

    Second Batch was dated Wednesday Jan 19 for processing and I recieved my scores on Friday the 28th. (3 weeks)
    THe funny thing is the lasy said they were mailed out already on Friday the 21 from New Jersey and I live in PA. (funny thing is the postmark was Tuesday the 25(!st class mail) so it wasnt mailed out firday.

    I also found it odd that my address was handwritten for the first batch which shows that they probably don't use the newest technology.

    ANYWAY when I called to see about the third batch which I took on the 18th I held for a few minutes and she said OK they will be processed wednesday night (the 26th and then "put into the system") It was my advisor that suddested calling to see if they were recieved safely.

    MY POINT IS: I think the pattern is that whenever your test center sends them out and Chauncey recieved them... They are sent for processing the following Wednesday night. They are probably put into some file and then sent out early the next week. THIS is just a theory.

    hypothetical example:
    If I took a DSST today, the 31st, and someone else was taking one tomorrow- the test center may wait til Wednesday the 2nd to UPS them. They arrive on the 3rd and are opened up on the 4th---- They would most likely be sent in for processing NEXT Wednesday night Feb 9th and you'd get them in the mail late the next week on the 17th or 18th.

    Winter may be a slow season too due to bad weather and a lot of exams being taken between the 2 semesters...
     
  10. Papa Georgia

    Papa Georgia New Member

    I was told by a Chauncey CSR that the exams were scored on Monday and Wednesday night.
     
  11. bernieyeater

    bernieyeater Member

    http://getcollegecredit.com/faq

    Internet based exams now have instant results.

    Q.14 How do I access the results of my exam?

    A. Exam results are available to the test taker immediately after Internet-based exams are taken. Test takers may login to the testing platform at any time to review and reprint their score report. For students who take paper-based exams, scores will be mailed.
     

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