How is my SAT score calculated?

The SAT tests your ability in three general areas – Math, Critical Reading, and Writing – and for each area you receive a score of between 200 and 800 points. 

These scores are then added to derive your overall SAT score, which will be somewhere between 600 and 2400 points – with 2400 being a perfect score and 600 being the lowest score possible. 

But how are these scores actually calculated?

When you open your test booklet on test day, it will contain 10 sections.  Three of the sections will contain Math questions, three will contain critical reading questions, 3 will contain writing questions, and 1 section will be an experimental section. (Note: the experimental section is not included in your score.)

Awarding Points - When your answer sheet is scored, you will receive one point for every question you answer correct, you will lose ¼ of a point for every question you answer incorrectly.  If you skip a question, or if you answer a grid-in question incorrectly, you will neither earn nor lose points.

Calculating Your Raw Score - When the College Board calculates your SAT score, they begin by calculating your RAW SCORE for each area. For instance, the raw score for each of the Critical Reading sections is calculated, and then the three section scores are added to determine your total Raw Score for Critical Reading. (On a test containing 67 Critical Reading questions, a raw score might be as low as  –16.75 or as high as +67.00 points). 

Calculating your SAT Score - To calculate your SAT Score, your Raw Score is then converted to a scaled score of between 200 and 800 points, using a conversion table specific to the version of the SAT test you took.  (At any given SAT testing location, there will be multiple versions of the test handed out to students taking the test.  This means that the test you are taking will not be identical to the test that the person next to you is taking, so there is a conversion table specific to each version.) 

Maximizing Raw Points - The key thing to remember is that improving your Raw Score will improve your SAT score.  Your goal should be to study and practice so you can learn to maximize the points you earn, while minimizing the points lost or missed. 

Keep these tips in mind:

• To do well on the SAT, you don’t need to answer every question, but you do need to answer questions correctly to earn points.
• You lose points for incorrect answers, so a) avoid making careless errors and b) don’t “guess” unless you are certain that at least one of the answer choices provided is incorrect and can eliminate it.
• Learn how different sections of the SAT are organized so you can answer the easy questions first to maximize points.

Remember, you don’t need to answer every question on the SAT to score well.  In fact, unless you are striving to score a perfect 2400 on the SAT you should NOT try to answer every question.  Instead, you should work to maximize your raw points by correctly answering the questions you can and by avoiding incorrect answers and careless errors.