How to Calculate SAT Score: Explore SAT Raw Score Conversion

Taking the SAT can be a valuable step in assessing your college preparedness, as many U.S. universities consider these scores when making admissions decisions. The College Board reports that roughly 1.5 million high schoolers from the class of 2021 took the SAT at least once, underscoring its widespread use.

The SAT evaluates your math, reading, and writing skills, providing valuable insights into your strengths and weaknesses. Calculating your potential SAT score can be particularly insightful, as it helps you identify areas for improvement and estimate how many questions you can miss on test day. Therefore, understanding SAT scoring and optimizing your performance are key. Read our blog and follow the simple four-step SAT score guide for a clearer picture of your potential score and targeted areas for focus.

How is the SAT Scored?

To calculate your final SAT score, the College Board first analyzes your raw scores. The raw scores are the number of questions you answered correctly in each section. Each correct answer earns you 1 point, with no penalty for incorrect answers.

The SAT score range is 400–1600, with 400 being the lowest and 1600 being the highest. But how does the College Board arrive at these scores?

Next, the College Board converts these raw scores for each section—Math, Reading, and Writing and Language—into scaled scores ranging from 1 to 40. This conversion uses a special equating process to ensure fairness across different test versions with varying difficulty levels. These scaled scores are then further converted into section scores on a scale of 200–800.

Finally, the College Board combines your Reading and Writing scores to create a single Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section score out of 800. Similarly, your Math score stands alone on a scale of 800.

Your total SAT score is simply the sum of your EBRW and Math section scores.

Read Also: 11 Hardest SAT Math Questions in 2024

What are SAT Subscores and Cross-Test Scores?

In addition to your overall SAT score, section scores, and total score, your score report will also include subscores and cross-test scores.

Subscores are reported on a scale of 1–15 and measure your performance in specific skill areas within each section of the SAT. They can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and provide more detailed information about your performance than your total score alone.

Here is a table that shows the subscores and which sections of the SAT they appear on:

Subscore	Description	Sections
Command of Evidence	Your ability to read and understand complex literary and informational texts.	Reading, Writing and Language
Words in Context	Your knowledge of vocabulary and your ability to use words in context.	Reading, Writing and Language
Expression of Ideas	Your ability to write clearly and effectively and to develop and support your ideas.	Writing and Language
Standard English Conventions	Your mastery of grammar, usage, and mechanics.	Writing and Language
Heart of Algebra	Your understanding of basic algebraic concepts and your ability to solve algebra problems.	Math
Problem Solving and Data Analysis	Your ability to solve math problems that involve real-world contexts and data analysis.	Math
Passport to Advanced Math	Your readiness for more advanced math courses, such as calculus.	Math

On the SAT, cross-test scores (10–40) measure your ability to analyze social studies and science themes across all sections, giving colleges a broader view of your skills. These scores fall into two categories:

• Analysis in History/Social Studies
• Analysis in Science

Read Also: How to Get Your SAT Score: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Calculate Your SAT Score?

Calculate your SAT scores in minutes with this straightforward, four-step guide.

Step 1: Find your raw scores

Begin by reviewing your answer sheet and marking each correct answer in each section: Math, Reading, and Writing. Each correct answer is worth 1 point, and there’s no penalty for leaving questions blank or choosing the wrong answer. This means you can fill in every bubble confidently without fear of deductions.

Step 2: Determine Your Math Section Score

If you have your practice test’s scoring chart, use the conversion table provided to translate your raw Math score to a scaled score between 200 and 800.

If you don’t have the scoring chart, use the sample conversion table below to get an approximate idea of your Math section score. Keep in mind that this is just an estimate and may not reflect the exact scoring of your specific test.

Step 3: Combine Your Reading and Writing Scores

Once you have your SAT Math score, let’s move on to the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section, which combines your performance on the Reading and Writing tests. 

To calculate your EBRW score, follow these steps:

1. Convert your raw scores for Reading and Writing. Using the conversion table provided in your practice test, find the corresponding test scores (between 10 and 40) for each section based on the number of questions you answered correctly.

2. Combine your Reading and Writing test scores. Simply add the two scores you obtained in step 1. This will give you a number between 20 and 80.

3. Multiply your combined score by 10. This final step translates your combined score into your official EBRW section score on a scale of 200–800.

By following these steps, you can easily calculate your EBRW score.

Step 4: Calculate Your Total SAT Score

To calculate your total SAT score, simply add together your final section scores for Math and EBRW in this final step.

Suggested: What is a Good SAT Score for 2024

SAT Scoring Chart

This SAT score chart provides a general guideline for estimating your score. The score ranges are based on an analysis of all eight official SAT practice test scoring tables, combining data from both sections and test types. However, keep in mind:

• This chart provides a general picture of how raw scores translate into section and test scores. Individual practice exams may vary in difficulty, impacting the conversion between raw scores and final results.

• For the most precise score conversions, rely on the scoring table included with your specific SAT practice test. You can find official practice tests and their corresponding scoring tables on the College Board website.

Raw Score/Number of Correct Answers	Math Section Score	Reading Test Score	Writing and Language Test Score
0	200	10	10
1	200-210	10	10
2	210-220	10	10
3	220-240	10-11	10-11
4	230-250	11-12	11-12
5	250-270	11-13	12-13
6	270-290	12-14	12-14
7	280-300	13-15	13-15
8	300-320	14-15	14-15
9	310-340	14-16	15-16
10	320-350	15-17	15-17
11	340-360	16-17	16-18
12	350-380	16-18	17-19
13	360-390	17-19	17-19
14	370-400	17-19	18-20
15	380-420	18-20	18-21
16	390-430	18-21	18-22
17	400-440	19-21	19-22
18	410-450	20-22	19-23
19	420-460	20-22	20-24
20	430-470	21-23	20-24
21	440-480	21-24	21-25
22	450-490	22-24	21-25
23	460-500	22-25	22-26
24	470-510	23-25	23-26
25	480-520	23-26	23-27
26	490-530	24-26	24-27
27	500-540	24-27	24-28
28	500-550	25-27	25-29
29	510-560	25-28	25-29
30	520-570	26-28	26-30
31	520-580	26-29	27-30
32	530-580	27-29	27-31
33	540-590	28-29	28-32
34	540-600	28-30	29-33
35	550-610	29-30	29-33
36	560-620	29-31	30-34
37	570-630	29-31	31-34
38	580-630	30-32	31-35
39	580-640	30-32	32-36
40	590-650	31-33	33-37
41	600-660	31-33	34-38
42	610-660	32-34	36-39
43	610-670	32-35	38-40
44	620-680	33-35	40
45	630-680	33-36	—
46	640-690	34-37	—
47	650-700	35-37	—
48	660-710	36-38	—
49	670-730	36-38	—
50	680-740	37-39	—
51	690-750	39-40	—
52	700-770	40	—
53	710-780	—	—
54	730-790	—	—

Suggested: 20 Top Colleges Accepting SAT Score of 1180

From the Desk of Yocket

The SAT scoring system, while intricate, serves a crucial purpose: it aims to create a standardized metric for comparing student performance across different test versions and over time. This allows colleges and universities to evaluate applicants fairly and make informed admissions decisions. Understanding the mechanics of score calculation empowers students to approach the test with a clearer goal and interpret their results effectively. Platforms like Yocket can also provide valuable insights and support to students navigating the complexities of standardized testing and the college admissions process.

The conversion of raw scores to scaled scores through equating ensures fairness, considering the varying difficulty levels of different test versions. This prevents situations where a student scoring well on an easier test gets penalized compared to someone facing a tougher version. The section-specific scoring adds another layer of nuance. By separating Evidence-Based Reading and Writing from Math, the SAT exam acknowledges the diverse skill sets involved in college readiness. Students with strengths in one area won’t be overshadowed by weaknesses in another, providing a more accurate picture of their academic potential.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are raw SAT scores converted to scaled scores?

Your raw score (number of correct answers) is not directly reflected in your final score. The College Board uses a process called equating to account for differences in difficulty between different test versions. This ensures that a specific raw score always corresponds to the same level of performance, regardless of which test you took.

How is the total SAT score calculated?

Simply add the scaled SAT scores for the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and the Math section. For example, a score of 710 in Math and 640 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing would give you a total score of 1350.

What is a superscore?

Some colleges accept SAT superscores, which are the highest individual section scores achieved across multiple SAT attempts. For example, if you scored a 750 on Math on one test and a 700 on Reading on another, your superscore would be 750 + 700 = 1450.