How does the SAT curve work?

Hey there! I've been hearing people talk about the SAT curve, and I honestly don't get it. Can someone please explain how the curve works and what it means for my own SAT score? Thanks in advance!

Hello! The SAT curve, more accurately referred to as equating, is a process used by the College Board to ensure that scores are consistent and fair across different test administrations. The main purpose of equating is to account for slight variations in difficulty between different test forms, so that a student's score would be equivalent regardless of which version of the test they took.

Here's a general overview of how equating works:

1. Raw scores: First, your raw score is calculated by adding up the number of questions you answered correctly on each section. There's no penalty for incorrect answers, so your raw score is simply the total number of correct responses.

2. Equating: Next, the College Board applies the equating process. Each SAT test form has its own equating table that converts raw scores to scaled scores (ranging from 200 to 800 for each section). The equating process takes into account the difficulty of each test form, ensuring that a specific raw score will result in the same scaled score, even if one test is slightly harder or easier than another.

3. Total score: Your total SAT score is then calculated by adding your scaled scores from the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and the Math section, resulting in a score range of 400 to 1600.

It's important to note that equating doesn't mean that your score is determined by how other students perform on the test. Rather, it ensures fairness by adjusting for differences in test difficulty. In other words, if you took a more difficult SAT version, the equating process might be more generous, requiring fewer correct answers for a particular scaled score compared to an easier version.

Remember that while understanding the SAT curve can be helpful, it's most important to focus on preparing well and performing to the best of your ability on the test. Good luck!