How SAT Scores Are Calculated

Understanding how your SAT score is determined can enhance your preparation and help you better interpret your results. The scoring process transforms your performance on test questions into a final score through several key steps, ensuring fairness and consistency across different test versions.

1. Raw Scores: Counting Correct Answers

• Definition:
  Your raw score is simply the total number of questions you answer correctly in each section of the test.

• No Penalty for Guessing:
  There is no deduction for incorrect answers. This means that answering every question—even if you must guess—is advantageous when attempting to maximize your score.

2. Scaled Scores: Adjusting for Test Difficulty

• Purpose:
  Raw scores are converted to scaled scores to adjust for minor differences in difficulty among various test forms. This ensures that scores are comparable regardless of the specific test version.

• Score Ranges:

  • Section Scores:
    Each of the two main sections—Reading and Writing, and Math—is scored on a scale of 200 to 800.
  • Total Score:
    Your total SAT score is the sum of your two section scores, ranging from 400 to 1600.

• Equating Process:
  A statistical process called equating is applied so that a similar level of performance results in a similar scaled score regardless of the test date. For instance, a raw score of 50 in Math might convert to a scaled score of 700 on one test and 710 on another, depending on test difficulty.

3. Understanding Score Ranges and Percentiles

• Score Range:
  Your score report may include a range to reflect potential variations if you took the test multiple times under similar conditions, providing context for the reliability of your score.

• Percentiles:
  Percentile ranks indicate the percentage of test-takers who scored at or below your score. This comparison helps you understand your performance relative to the national testing population.

4. Subscores and Cross-Test Scores

Beyond the main section scores, the SAT provides additional information through subscores and cross-test scores to give you a more detailed performance analysis:

Subscores (1–15 scale)

• Reading and Writing:

  • Command of Evidence
  • Words in Context
  • Expression of Ideas
  • Standard English Conventions

• Math:

  • Heart of Algebra
  • Problem Solving and Data Analysis
  • Passport to Advanced Math

Cross-Test Scores (10–40 scale)

• Analysis in History/Social Studies:
  These scores provide insight into your critical reading and analytical skills as applied in historical or social contexts.

• Analysis in Science:
  This score measures your ability to interpret and analyze data within scientific contexts.

These additional scores help identify specific areas of strength and weakness, allowing for targeted improvement in your study strategy.