Hey everyone, I'm a little confused about the SAT scoring system. How do they actually score the test, and what's the maximum score you can achieve? Also, how do they calculate the section scores and the total score? Thanks!
Hey! No problem, let me break down the SAT scoring system for you. The SAT has two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math. These sections are scored on a scale ranging from 200 to 800, with the maximum combined score being 1600. Let's dive into how they calculate the section scores and the total score.
To arrive at the section scores, the SAT process consists of two main steps: raw score calculation and scaled score conversion. First, your raw score is determined by the number of questions you answered correctly for each section. There's no penalty for incorrect answers on the SAT, so your raw score is simply the total number of correct answers in a section.
Next, the raw scores are converted into scaled scores using a process called "equating." The College Board designed this process to account for slight differences in difficulty across different test versions. Equating ensures that a scaled score represents the same level of ability, regardless of the specific test administration. This conversion makes it possible to compare results between different test dates fairly.
To calculate your total SAT score, simply add your EBRW and Math section scores together. For instance, if you scored a 680 on EBRW and a 720 on Math, your total SAT score would be 1400 (680 + 720).
Keep in mind that the SAT also provides subscores and cross-test scores, which offer more detailed insight into your performance across specific skill areas and subjects (e.g., history/social studies and science). However, these scores aren't factored into your main SAT score of 1600; they're intended to give you (and colleges) extra information about your abilities in those areas.
I hope this helps clarify the SAT scoring system for you! Good luck with your test preparation!
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