Hey there, do any of you guys know how the SAT scores are graded? I'm curious about how they convert the number of correct answers into the scaled score. Any insights would be really helpful, thanks in advance!
The SAT test score is calculated in a process called "equating." This process ensures the fairness of the test across different test dates.
Here's the most simplified version of the process:
1. Raw Score: First, you receive 1 point for every correct answer and no points are deducted for incorrect or skipped questions. This tally becomes your "raw score."
2. Scaled Score: Each section's raw score (Reading/Writing and Math) is then converted into a scaled score of 200-800 using a process called equating
. Equating takes into account the difficulty of the specific test version so that a certain scaled score always represents the same level of ability, regardless of the version of the test you took.
3. Composite Score: Your composite SAT score is the total of your scaled scores in the two sections. This number falls somewhere between 400 and 1600.
The College Board, the organization that administers the SAT, does not provide the conversion tables ahead of the test because the exact conversion can vary slightly depending on the difficulty of the test. Each test form will have its own equating table. It's crucial to practice and prepare for all the types of questions on the SAT, rather than trying to predict the score conversions.
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