Let’s just get this out of the way—this exam is hard! If my difficulty list were based solely on personal experience, the History of the Soviet Union DSST would probably be sitting at the very top. The material is challenging enough on its own. Still, if you’re not already familiar with Russian history, the sheer number of names and events can make it feel even more overwhelming. Personally, I found the names themselves to be one of the hardest parts to keep straight, much like the Vietnam War DSST. I took the old version (Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union) and passed with a 48 (old scoring system) after only a few days of focused study. So it’s absolutely doable. The exam has since been revised, but it is still manageable. I'll go take the new one soon and get back to you. In the meantime, don't stress out. If you dedicate the time and utilize the right study resources, you’ll likely be okay. Your brain might feel like it’s melting when you walk out of the testing center, but with some determination and solid prep, you’ll walk out with a passing score, too.