Demystifying SAT Scoring

Hey, guys! Hope you're all doing well. I just wrote my SAT and I am trying to figure out how the score is calculated. I know it's something to do with raw score and scalings, but the details are quite fuzzy for me. It would be super helpful if someone could explain the process.

Sure, happy to help shed some light on this! The SAT, which is now fully digital as of spring 2024, consists of two sections: Reading/Writing and Math. Each of these is scored on a scale of 200-800 points, giving a composite score ranging from 400-1600.

The score is calculated through two steps - first determining your raw score, and then converting it to the scaled score.

1. Raw Score: This is the straightforward part—for each section, you receive one point for every question you answer correctly. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so it's in your best interest to attempt every question.

2. Scaled Score: Once your raw score is calculated, it is then converted to the scaled score using a process called 'equating'. This process is designed to account for slight differences in difficulty between different versions of the test. It ensures that a certain scaled score represents the same level of achievement regardless of which test edition you took.

The equating process is done by the College Board and is reflected in the score conversion tables they release for each SAT, which translate raw scores to scaled scores for each section. The exact conversion can vary slightly between different test dates.

To clarify, let's consider an example. If you correctly answered 45 out of the 54 questions in the Reading/Writing section, and 35 out of 44 questions in the Math section, your raw scores would be 45 and 35 respectively. These raw scores are then converted into scaled scores using the conversion table for your test date. For instance, a raw score of 45 in the Reading/Writing might equate to a scaled score of 700 (this is an estimate; actually scores depend on the conversion table).

Remember, though, that even though you receive separate scaled scores for Reading/Writing and Math, many colleges consider your composite (total) score, which is simply the sum of your two scaled scores. By adding the scaled scores from our example (say, 700 for Reading/Writing and 700 for Math), you would have a composite score of 1400.

Just remember, study hard and aim to do your best. The more familiar you become with the SAT format and types of questions, the more comfortably you'll be able to approach the exam. Don't be discouraged if you don't achieve your target score on your first attempt—many students find that they are able to improve significantly with study and practice. Good luck!