Can a SAT Scoring Calculator really help?

Has anyone used any SAT scoring calculator to predict their score? How accurate does it usually turn out to be? Should I give more credence to that or the actual practice tests?

Weighing in as a current college student who used these calculators, I'd say SAT scoring calculators can be helpful tools in estimating SAT scores based on the number of questions answered correctly, but they don't guarantee the exact score you'll receive on test day. They can give you a general idea of your range, which is indeed useful for tracking your progress and identifying areas you need to work on.

However, practice tests are certainly more reflective of your test-taking abilities as they mimic the actual test conditions. The College Board's practice tests are designed to emulate the actual SAT, which helps in familiarizing yourself with the structure and timing of the SAT, thereby reducing anxiety on the test day. Your performance on these practice tests, therefore, can give you a better understanding of how you might score on the actual test.

So, in essence, while SAT scoring calculators can provide some insight, your focus should be more on maximizing your performance on practice tests. The scores you get on these tests are likely to be more representative of your potential performance on the actual SAT.