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Understanding SAT Scores

The SAT score report isn’t just a slip of paper with a number on it. It’s a multi-faceted document, a mirror reflecting your test-taking prowess and potential college readiness. However, like any mirror, it requires the right light to view it properly. Let’s illuminate the details of your SAT scores to ensure you interpret your score report with clarity and confidence.

1. A Look at the Composite Score

The composite or total score is the headline number you’ll first notice:

  • Total Score Range: 400 to 1600
    • Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW): Score range from 200 to 800.
    • Math: Score range from 200 to 800.

These are cumulative scores, meaning they combine your raw scores (the total number of questions you answered correctly) from each section and translate them to the scaled scores you see.

2. Understanding Sectional Scores

The score report breaks down your performance in the two main sections:

  • Reading Test Score: 10 to 40
  • Writing and Language Test Score: 10 to 40
  • Math Test Score: 10 to 40

These scores can give you a clearer picture of how you performed in each specific area, providing insights into your strengths and potential areas of improvement.

3. Delving into Subscores

Beyond the main scores, the SAT provides subscores to analyze specific skills:

  • EBRW Subscores:
    • Command of Evidence: Shows how well you can find and interpret evidence in passages.
    • Words in Context: Measures your understanding of word meanings in varied contexts.
  • Math Subscores:
    • Heart of Algebra: Focuses on linear equations, systems, and related problems.
    • Problem Solving and Data Analysis: Assesses your capability in using math to solve real-world problems.
    • Passport to Advanced Math: Indicates proficiency in understanding complex equations.

4. Cross-test Scores

Cross-test scores range from 10 to 40 and evaluate your proficiency in:

  • Analysis in History/Social Studies
  • Analysis in Science

These scores are based on questions in the Reading, Writing & Language, and Math sections that are related to social studies and science.

5. Essay Scores (If Attempted)

If you’ve opted for the Essay section, you’ll receive three separate scores, each ranging from 2 to 8, evaluating your:

  • Reading: Understanding and interpretation of the provided passage.
  • Analysis: Ability to evaluate the author’s argument, use of evidence, and reasoning.
  • Writing: Overall clarity, coherence, and craft of your essay.

6. The Percentile Game

Your percentile ranking showcases how your performance compares with other test-takers. If your percentile is 68%, it means you’ve outperformed 68% of students who took the SAT.

7. College and Career Readiness Benchmarks

These benchmarks indicate if you’re on track to be ready for college. If your scores meet or exceed these benchmarks, it suggests you’re well-prepared for college-level work.

Interpreting the Data

  • Areas of Strength: Scores that are close to or at the maximum for a section or subscore indicate your strong points.
  • Areas for Improvement: Scores that are significantly lower than your other sections or the benchmarks suggest areas you might want to work on for future tests or in your studies.

What Is a Good SAT Score?

A good SAT score is one that helps you get admitted to a college that you want to go to.

In 2019, the average SAT score was 1050. Any score above that would be above average and perfectly acceptable for many colleges. A score of 1350 would put you in the top 10% of test takers and help make your application competitive at more selective schools.

In choosing colleges to apply to, consider factors such as the cost of tuition and availability of financial aid, location, and campus atmosphere. Also consider whether the college offers academic and extracurricular programs that interest you. To set your target SAT score, first explore a range of colleges that can offer you the mix of things you want. Then, look at the average SAT score for an admitted freshman and use that as your target. The College Board college planning website BigFuture contains all of this information and is an excellent resource for researching colleges.

Note: Bear in mind that your SAT score is only one factor among several on your application. Your grades, application essay, and extracurriculars also shape admissions officers’ perceptions of your application.

Improvement Through Practice

If you have time to take the SAT again—especially if you just took it as a junior—it’s possible to bring your score up considerably by practicing with Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy®. Link your College Board account to your Khan Academy account and then share your score. Khan Academy will prepare a personalized study plan that targets your weak areas and advises you how to study efficiently and effectively—at no cost. Research shows that following these personalized recommendations helps students increase their scores. With time and effort, you can get closer to achieving your target score.

Your Score Report Explained

The Student Score Reports Portal

The student score reports portal will list all your available SAT Suite of Assessments score reports. The entry for each score report will show the total score and section scores you received for that test. Click on the box containing your score to go to your score report for that exam.

Total Score

The top portion of your score report contains a big black number. This is your SAT Score, also referred to as your total score. Next to your score are the numbers 400–1600, indicating that the range of possible scores on the SAT is 400–1600. To the right of your total score is your score percentile, telling you what percentage of students who took the test did better or worse than you. In small type below your score is your Score Range. This refers to the range of scores you might expect to get if you took the SAT multiple times on different days. Some colleges look at your score range rather than your Total Score in considering your application.

Section Scores

After the total score are your two section scores, (1) Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and (2) Math. The SAT contains three tests: (1) Reading, (2) Writing and Language, and (3) Math, but the Reading test and the Writing and Language test are combined into one section. The two section scores added together equal your total score.

Your two section scores are presented on a line infographic that shows where your score falls in relation to a benchmark that means you’re on track in preparing for college. This part of your score report also shows your percentile for both section scores, meaning the percentage of test takers who scored lower than you.

Your Score Recipients

After your section scores are your score recipients. Recipients are colleges or scholarship programs that you indicated you wanted your scores sent to. The score recipients section indicates the date your scores were sent and the status (whether they were sent or not and why).

Score Details: Test Scores, Cross-Test Scores, Subscores

The Score Details tab on your score report gives you detailed information on the different parts of your test, including your percentile score for each part.

Test Scores

Your three test scores are Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. This part of your score report presents your test scores in the context of benchmarks for college readiness, letting you know whether you’re on track, almost on track, or in need of improvement. The score report also tells you the number of questions you answered correctly or incorrectly.

Cross-Test Scores

Your score report contains two cross-test scores: Analysis in Science and Analysis in History/Social Studies. They’re called “cross-test” scores because the questions that make up this part of your score are drawn from all three tests.

Subscores

These seven subscores reflect how well you did on specific types of questions that appear on the SAT:

  • Command of Evidence
  • Words in Context
  • Expression of Ideas
  • Standard English Conventions
  • Heart of Algebra
  • Problem Solving and Data Analysis
  • Passport to Advanced Math

How Scores Are Calculated

Total Score

Your total score is a number between 400 and 1600. The total score is the sum of the two section scores: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. Each of these two section scores has a possible range of 200–800. The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score is composed of the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test, and each of those tests contributes equally to the section score. The Math section score is made up of the Math Test only.

How the Section Scores Are Calculated

Section scores are based on your raw score in each section, which is the number of questions you got right. Then, the raw score is converted to a scaled score between 200 and 800. This process accounts for the fact that different versions of the SAT given are slightly easier or harder.

For example, there are always 58 questions on the Math Test. On some versions of the test, a raw score of 57 will earn you a scaled score of 800; on other versions, you would need to get all 58 questions correct. This process of balancing different versions of the test into equivalent scaled scores is called equating.

How Test Scores Are Calculated

Your test score is a number between 10 and 40. Like the section scores, it’s calculated by converting the raw score (number of questions answered correctly) to a scaled score from 10 to 40. Again, scoring accounts for slight differences in difficulty between different versions of the test. To get the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section score, you multiply the test scores for Reading and for Writing and Language by 10 and then add them together. To get the Math section score, you multiply the Math Test score by 20.

Subscores

The seven subscores on the SAT each have a possible score in a range of 1–15. The actual number of questions on the test that contribute to each subscore is different. For example, there are 19 Heart of Algebra questions and 16 Passport to Advanced Math questions. As a result, the raw scores for each subscore are scaled to a number between 1 and 15 to make them equivalent.

Cross-Test Scores

Cross-test scores are drawn from more than one of the three tests. There are two cross-test scores: Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science. Both scores are made up of 21 questions on the reading test, 6 on the writing and language and 8 on the math test, for a total of 35 questions on the SAT contributing to each of these scores. The raw score from 1 to 35 for each test is converted to a scaled score between 10 and 40.

Who Will See My Score?

If you chose score recipients before scores were released, those colleges and scholarship programs will get your score report shortly after you do. Your high school, district, and state will also be able to see your scores online.

Should I Take the SAT Again?

Taking the SAT Twice Is Recommended

College Board recommends taking the SAT at least twice: once in spring of your junior year and again in fall of your senior year. Most students who retake the SAT improve their score. If you’re not satisfied with your score after taking the test twice, you might choose to take it a third time in the fall of senior year.

That said, only you can decide whether retaking the test makes sense for you. You might have already reached your target score, meaning you’re already a competitive applicant at the college or colleges you want to apply to. Also consider where you are in the college application process and whether you have time to retake it.

Benefits of Taking the SAT Again

The Likelihood You’ll Improve with Practice

You can improve your score with practice. Official SAT Practice on Khan Academyis free and highly effective. It helps you make the most of your available study time by giving you interactive tutorials personalized to your skill level. Khan Academy can use your score report to give you a study plan and daily practice that prioritizes areas with the most opportunity for improvement. 

Our research shows that students who spend at least six hours practicing and follow at least one best practice score nearly 40 points higher than students who don’t take these steps. Best practices include taking a full-length practice test, leveling up your skills, and following personalized practice recommendations.

The Advantage of Experience

When you take the test a second time, you benefit from knowing what to expect, and you’ll be able to approach the test with greater confidence.

The Perks of a Higher Score

An improved score can make your college application more competitive and can open up more scholarship opportunities.

SAT Essay Scoring

Note: While the SAT Essay has been discontinued, it is available for some of our state partners who require the essay as part of SAT School Day administrations.

How the SAT Essay Is Scored

Responses to the optional SAT Essay are scored using a carefully designed process.

  • Two different people will read and score your essay.
  • Each scorer awards 1–4 points for each dimension: reading, analysis, and writing.
  • The two scores for each dimension are added.
  • You’ll receive three scores for the SAT Essay—one for each dimension—ranging from 2–8 points.
  • There is no composite SAT Essay score (the three scores are not added together) and there are no percentiles.

We train every scorer to hold every student to the same standards, the ones shown on this page.

Reading Scoring Guide

Essay ScoreExplanation
Score of 4
  • Demonstrates thorough comprehension of the source text.
  • Shows an understanding of the text’s central idea(s) and of most important details and how they interrelate, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the text.
  • Is free of errors of fact or interpretation with regard to the text.
  • Makes skillful use of textual evidence (quotations, paraphrases, or both), demonstrating a complete understanding of the source text.
Score of 3
  • Demonstrates effective comprehension of the source text.
  • Shows an understanding of the text’s central idea(s) and important details.
  • Is free of substantive errors of fact and interpretation with regard to the text.
  • Makes appropriate use of textual evidence (quotations, paraphrases, or both), demonstrating an understanding of the source text.
Score of 2
  • Demonstrates some comprehension of the source text.
  • Shows an understanding of the text’s central idea(s) but not of important details.
  • May contain errors of fact and/or interpretation with regard to the text.
  • Makes limited and/or haphazard use of textual evidence (quotations, paraphrases, or both), demonstrating some understanding of the source text.
Score of 1
  • Demonstrates little or no comprehension of the source text.
  • Fails to show an understanding of the text’s central idea(s), and may include only details without reference to central idea(s).
  • May contain numerous errors of fact and/or interpretation with regard to the text.
  • Makes little or no use of textual evidence (quotations, paraphrases, or both), demonstrating little or no understanding of the source text.

Analysis Scoring Guide

Essay ScoreExplanation
Score of 4
  • Offers an insightful analysis of the source text and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the analytical task.
  • Offers a thorough, well-considered evaluation of the author’s use of evidence, reasoning, and/or stylistic and persuasive elements, and/or feature(s) of the student’s own choosing.
  • Contains relevant, sufficient, and strategically chosen support for claim(s) or point(s) made.
  • Focuses consistently on those features of the text that are most relevant to addressing the task.
Score of 3
  • Offers an effective analysis of the source text and demonstrates an understanding of the analytical task.
  • Competently evaluates the author’s use of evidence, reasoning, and/or stylistic and persuasive elements, and/or feature(s) of the student’s own choosing.
  • Contains relevant and sufficient support for claim(s) or point(s) made.
  • Focuses primarily on those features of the text that are most relevant to addressing the task.
Score of 2
  • Offers limited analysis of the source text and demonstrates only partial understanding of the analytical task.
  • Identifies and attempts to describe the author’s use of evidence, reasoning, and/or stylistic and persuasive elements, and/or feature(s) of the student’s own choosing, but merely asserts rather than explains their importance, or one or more aspects of the response’s analysis are unwarranted based on the text.
  • Contains little or no support for claim(s) or point(s) made.
  • May lack a clear focus on those features of the text that are most relevant to addressing the task.
Score of 1
  • Offers little or no analysis or ineffective analysis of the source text and demonstrates little or no understanding of the analytic task.
  • Identifies without explanation some aspects of the author’s use of evidence, reasoning, and/or stylistic and persuasive elements, and/or feature(s) of the student’s choosing.
  • Or numerous aspects of the response’s analysis are unwarranted based on the text.
  • Contains little or no support for claim(s) or point(s) made, or support is largely irrelevant.
  • May not focus on features of the text that are relevant to addressing the task.
  • Or the response offers no discernible analysis (e.g., is largely or exclusively summary).

Writing Scoring Guide

Essay ScoreExplanation
Score of 4
  • Is cohesive and demonstrates a highly effective use and command of language.
  • Includes a precise central claim.
  • Includes a skillful introduction and conclusion. The response demonstrates a deliberate and highly effective progression of ideas both within paragraphs and throughout the essay.
  • Has a wide variety in sentence structures. The response demonstrates a consistent use of precise word choice. The response maintains a formal style and objective tone.
  • Shows a strong command of the conventions of standard written English and is free or virtually free of errors.
Score of 3
  • Is mostly cohesive and demonstrates effective use and control of language.
  • Includes a central claim or implicit controlling idea.
  • Includes an effective introduction and conclusion. The response demonstrates a clear progression of ideas both within paragraphs and throughout the essay.
  • Has variety in sentence structures. The response demonstrates some precise word choice. The response maintains a formal style and objective tone.
  • Shows a good control of the conventions of standard written English and is free of significant errors that detract from the quality of writing.
Score of 2
  • Demonstrates little or no cohesion and limited skill in the use and control of language.
  • May lack a clear central claim or controlling idea or may deviate from the claim or idea over the course of the response.
  • May include an ineffective introduction and/or conclusion. The response may demonstrate some progression of ideas within paragraphs but not throughout the response.
  • Has limited variety in sentence structures; sentence structures may be repetitive.
  • Demonstrates general or vague word choice; word choice may be repetitive. The response may deviate noticeably from a formal style and objective tone.
  • Shows a limited control of the conventions of standard written English and contains errors that detract from the quality of writing and may impede understanding.
Score of 1
  • Demonstrates little or no cohesion and inadequate skill in the use and control of language.
  • May lack a clear central claim or controlling idea.
  • Lacks a recognizable introduction and conclusion. The response does not have a discernible progression of ideas.
  • Lacks variety in sentence structures; sentence structures may be repetitive. The response demonstrates general and vague word choice; word choice may be poor or inaccurate. The response may lack a formal style and objective tone.
  • Shows a weak control of the conventions of standard written English and may contain numerous errors that undermine the quality of writing.

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