Hey all! I've been doing a bunch of SAT practice tests and I'm not certain how the scoring works. Can someone tell me how they convert the raw scores into the final score? It would really help me to better understand where I stand. Much thanks!
Sure thing! The scoring conversion for the SAT can be a bit complicated, but here's a simplified explanation.
Your SAT score consists of two sections: Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW). Each of these sections is scored on a scale of 200-800. The sum of these two scores gives you your total SAT score, which ranges from 400 to 1600.
The test designers first determine your raw score for each section, which is simply the number of questions you answered correctly. No points are deducted for wrong answers or skipped questions - it's purely based on the number of correct answers.
The raw score is then converted into what is known as a scaled score. The College Board uses a process known as equating to do this. Equating basically ensures that a score for a test taken on one date is equivalent to a score from another date. So, a Math score of 700 one year has the same meaning as a Math score of 700 the next year.
This scaled score is what you see when you receive your SAT score report. Since the conversion can vary slightly for each test, you would need a specific raw-to-scaled conversion chart for the precise test you took to pinpoint your exact score from your raw score.
For an estimate of how your raw scores might translate to scaled scores, you could refer to the College Board's SAT practice tests, which include scoring guides. However, remember that the final official conversion may differ slightly.
Hope this clarifies things for you!
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