How is the SAT score determined?

So, I've been looking into the SAT and I'm a little confused about how scores are calculated. Could anyone explain this process?

Sure! The SAT is a standardized test that measures students' abilities in two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math. Each section is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, which means the total SAT score ranges from 400 to 1600.

Here's a breakdown of how the SAT score is determined:

1. Raw Scores: For each section, your raw score is calculated based on the number of correct answers you provide, with no penalty for incorrect answers. For example, if there are 54 questions in the EBRW section and you answer 45 out of 54 questions correctly, your EBRW raw score would be 45.

2. Section Scores: Your raw scores for the EBRW and Math sections are then converted into scaled section scores using a process called equating. Equating adjusts for slight differences in the difficulty of different versions of the test to ensure that scores are comparable across different test dates. This conversion process typically involves looking at tables provided by the College Board that indicate the scaled score corresponding to a particular raw score.

To learn more about this conversion process, you can check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-does-the-curve-work-for-the-sat/

3. Total Score: To get your total SAT score, simply add your EBRW and Math section scores together. Continuing the example from before, let's say your EBRW raw score of 45 translates to a scaled score of 670, and your Math raw score of 40 translates to a scaled score of 700. Your total SAT score would be 1370 (670 + 700).

Nowadays, the digital SAT follows a different structure, with the same scoring scale, but the test comprises 2 modules for the Reading and Writing section, and 2 modules for the Math section, each lasting from 32 to 35 minutes.

Additionally, the College Board releases percentile ranks to show how your scores compare to other test-takers. For example, a 75th percentile score means you scored higher than 75% of students who took the SAT.

Keep in mind that some colleges and universities have adopted test-optional or test-blind policies, which means that they do not require SAT/ACT scores or do not consider them in the admissions process. However, you're smart to still be planning ahead in the event you do take the SAT, as there can be many instances where submitting a score can be a good idea, even if the school is officially test-optional.

For detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional

I hope this overview clears up your confusion about how SAT scores are determined!