Understanding SAT Math Scores

Hey everyone, new to this sub! I'm trying to make sense of the SAT math scores... Is there like a calculator or something where I can plug in my raw score and see what my scaled score or percentile would be? If yes, where can I find it? Thanks!

Hello and welcome to the forum! I completely understand your curiosity. The SAT scoring can seem a bit perplexing at first glance, but it essentially works like this: firstly, each correct answer on the SAT gives you one point (the raw score). There's no negative point for incorrect answers. Then, the raw score from each section (Math, Reading, and Writing) is converted to a scaled score between 200-800.

Unfortunately, there isn't an online calculator provided by the College Board or another organization that would allow you to convert your raw score to a scaled score directly. However, you can find a conversion chart attached to the answer key of any official SAT practice test. This raw score to scaled score conversion table will give you an approximate idea of what your scaled score might be based on your raw score in the Math section.

Do keep in mind that these tables aren't precise for your particular test date, as the College Board uses a process called "equating" to account for variances in test difficulty across different dates. Basically, a more difficult test will have a more generous raw-to-scaled score conversion (and vice versa) to ensure that a certain scaled score always represents the same level of ability, regardless of the test date.

For percentiles, the College Board releases an official percentile table each year. This table shows you what percentile your scaled score falls in. The higher the percentile, the better your performance compared to other students.

I hope this helps clarify the scoring process for the SAT!