How the SAT Scoring System Works

The number that matters: 400–1600

The SAT reports a total score from 400 to 1600. This is the sum of two section scores:

• Reading and Writing: 200–800
• Math: 200–800

From raw score to scaled score

Your raw score is simply the number of questions you got right (there's no penalty for wrong answers — always guess). That raw score is then converted to a scaled score out of 800 per section using a conversion table that adjusts for the difficulty of your specific test form. A slightly harder form gives you a slightly higher scaled score for the same number of correct answers.

The adaptive twist (digital SAT)

The digital SAT is section-adaptive, which means:

1. You take Module 1 of a section. Everyone gets the same mix of easy, medium, and hard questions.
2. Based on how you did, you're routed to either an easier Module 2 or a harder Module 2.
3. Your score depends on (a) how many questions you got right and (b) which module 2 you were routed to.

Percentile vs. score

Your score report also includes a percentile — the percentage of test-takers you outscored. Rough benchmarks:

• 1000 ≈ 40th percentile
• 1200 ≈ 75th percentile
• 1350 ≈ 90th percentile
• 1450 ≈ 96th percentile
• 1550+ ≈ 99th percentile

What colleges see

Most colleges see your section scores and your total. Many "superscore" — they take your best Reading and Writing across all attempts and your best Math across all attempts and combine them. This is why retaking the SAT almost always helps if you've prepared between attempts.

What score should you aim for?

Look up the middle-50% range of admitted students at the schools you're applying to. As a rule of thumb:

• Hit the 25th percentile of a school to be in the conversation.
• Hit the 75th percentile to make your application competitive.
• Above the 75th percentile, your score is no longer a bottleneck.

Common scoring myths

• "There's a guessing penalty." False on the modern SAT. Always answer every question.
• "Easy questions are worth less." False — every right answer adds 1 to your raw score regardless of difficulty.
• "Skipping is safer than guessing." Mathematically wrong. Even random guessing has positive expected value.

Next steps

• Find your weakest area: try Practice Quiz #1.
• Build a path forward: read our 8-week study plan.