Can someone explain SAT scores?

Hello! So I just got my SAT scores and I'm kind of lost. How is the score calculated? And what's considered a really good score? I'm not sure how to interpret all of this.

Sure, I'd be delighted to help you understand your SAT scores.

The Digital SAT is evaluated on a score range from 400 to 1600 with 1600 being the maximum achievable score. This score is a summation of Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing scores, each of which is scored on a scale from 200 to 800.

The SAT structure comprises two modules for Reading and Writing along with two modules for Math, with 54 questions for Reading and Writing and 44 for Math. Each question you answer correctly increases your raw score, which is then converted to a scaled score through a process known as equating. This process accounts for minor variations in difficulty across different test versions and ensures that no student gets an advantage or disadvantage from taking one version of the test over another.

Now, regarding what's considered a "good" score – that depends greatly on the colleges you're considering. For highly selective schools like Ivy League institutions, a composite score above 1470 is generally competitive. At other schools, a score above the national average of about 1050 could be very strong. It's crucial to research the average SAT scores of admitted students at the schools you're interested in to gauge how competitive your score would be.

Remember, while your SAT score is an important component of your application, it's not the only thing colleges consider. They also take into account your grades, course rigor, essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and more. So even if your SAT score isn't quite where you'd like it to be, you can strengthen other components of your application to make your overall profile more appealing to colleges.