SAT Scoring Basement

I know rocking a high SAT score is the dream, but what's the lowest SAT score someone could possibly get? Just trying to establish the range and understand the scoring better.

The SAT, now being fully digital as of spring 2024, follows a scoring structure where the lowest possible score is 400 and the highest is 1600. This is a combined score which includes the Reading/Writing section and the Math section. Each of these sections is scored individually between 200 (minimum) and 800 (maximum). So, even if you answer all the questions incorrectly or leave all of them blank, you will still receive a 200 in each of these two sections, resulting in a total minimum score of 400.

For a little more detail, the Reading/Writing section of the SAT consists of two 32-minute modules with 54 questions, and the Math section is made up of two 35-minute modules with 44 questions. Should you want to familiarize yourself more with how the digital SAT works, the Bluebook™ app provides a full-length practice test and a test preview.

Keep in mind that while knowing the score range is helpful, it is crucial to aim as high as possible since your SAT score can play a role in your college admissions, especially for schools that are not test-optional. The average scores for admitted students vary widely by institution, so always research the school's admitted student profile to understand what score might be competitive.