Understanding SAT 1 scoring system?

Hi everyone! I took the SAT recently, and I'm a bit confused about how the SAT scoring works. Can someone provide an overview or an explanation about the scoring system? Thank you!

Hi! I'll be happy to explain how the SAT scoring system works. The SAT is divided into two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math. Each of these sections is scored on a scale from 200 to 800 points, making the highest possible combined score 1600.

The EBRW section is further broken down into two parts: the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test. The Math section is divided into two modules, and you are allowed to use a calculator for both.

To calculate your section scores, the College Board first calculates "raw scores." For both the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test, your raw score is the total number of correct answers you provided. There is no penalty for wrong answers on the SAT, so guessing is encouraged when you're unsure.

Next, the raw scores are converted to "scaled scores" using a process called equating. Equating ensures that the scores are comparable across different test forms. In other words, it accounts for the slight differences in difficulty between various test administrations. The scaled scores range from 10 to 40 for both the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test.

Finally, the scaled scores of the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test are added together and multiplied by 10 to calculate your EBRW score. For example, if you receive a scaled score of 30 on the Reading Test and 35 on the Writing and Language Test, your EBRW score would be (30 + 35) × 10 = 650.

The Math section scoring follows a similar process. Your raw score is calculated based on the number of correct answers, and there's no penalty for wrong answers. This raw score for the two Math modules is then converted to a scaled score, which ranges from 200 to 800.

So, to sum up, your EBRW and Math section scores are combined to give you a total SAT score, ranging from 400 to 1600—a higher score indicating better performance. Keep in mind that scores vary by test date and may be superscored (colleges use the highest section scores from various test dates to create a new, higher composite score). And remember that while your SAT score is an important component of your college application, it's not the only factor considered in admissions decisions.