Is the SAT curved?

Hi all! I'm a little bit stressed about my upcoming SAT. I've heard people talk about the SAT being curved—is this true? If so, how exactly does this curve work?

Hello! It's understandable that you may have concerns about the SAT and its scoring process. Yes, the SAT is somewhat "curved," but it's more accurate to say that it's equated. The College Board equates each SAT test to ensure consistency and fairness in test scores across different test dates. Equating takes into consideration the slight variations in difficulty between different test versions.

The equating process involves pretesting questions on a sample group of students to gather data on their difficulty levels. Then, when the actual SAT is administered, the scoring is adjusted based on those difficulty levels. This means that if you take a slightly harder version of the SAT, you will have some leeway with your score compared to someone who took a slightly easier version.

However, it's essential to remember that this "curve" doesn't mean you'll receive a dramatically higher score if you take the SAT on a more challenging test date, nor should you rely on it when preparing for the exam. The adjustments are generally minimal and made to eliminate significant discrepancies.

Focus on giving your best during preparation and use official SAT practice materials to familiarize yourself with the test format and types of questions you'll encounter. Good luck with your SAT!