SAT® Scores & Release Dates
A Complete Guide To SAT Scoring
Are you curious to know how the SAT® is scored? This SAT Scoring Guide explains everything you need to know about SAT scores and how scores from different sections contribute to your overall SAT score. We will also explore the SAT score range, conversion of raw scores to scaled scores, and score release dates.
How Is the SAT Scored?
The College Board® has announced that the SAT will be going digital internationally in 2023 and in the US in 2024. While this transition to digital SAT will come with some changes, the scoring system for the digital SAT test remains more or less the same as the current format – paper and pencil. So, be it the paper and pencil or the digital format of the SAT, your final SAT score ranges from 400-1600.
On the current SAT format, the total SAT score is the sum of your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score and Math score. The EBRW section score consists of your Reading Test score, and Writing and Language Test score whereas, the Math section score comprises the Math Test only.
On the digital SAT format, the total SAT score is the sum of your Reading and Writing (RW) section score and the Math section score. Unlike the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section on the paper and pencil SAT that comprises two separate tests, the RW section on the digital SAT consists of only one test. Each section on the digital test is further divided into two separately timed modules. The scores of the modules are added together to get the total section score.
What is a raw score?
A raw score is the number of questions you correctly answer on your SAT. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, and your raw score is solely based on the correct responses. The raw score for each test also depends on the number of questions present in it. For example, if you answer 20 questions correctly on the Math Test, your raw score for that section would also be 20. A raw score is then converted to scaled scores for each section, which are added up to calculate your overall score.
You can refer to the tables below to understand the raw score range for both formats of the SAT.
Paper and Pencil SAT Scoring | |||
---|---|---|---|
Section | Test | No. of Questions | Raw Score Range |
EBRW Section | Reading | 52 | 0-52 |
Writing and Language | 44 | 0-44 | |
Math Section | Math | 58 | 0-58 |
Digital SAT Scoring | ||
---|---|---|
Section | No. of Questions | Raw Score Range |
Reading and Writing | 54 | 0-54 |
Math | 44 | 0-44 |
What are scaled scores?
Once your raw scores are calculated, they are converted to a standardized scale of 200-800 for each section. These converted scores are known as scaled scores. This conversion scale is set by the College Board® and remains more or less the same every year. However, there can be some changes depending on the difficulty level of the test. For example, on the Math Test, a raw score of 57 can earn you a scaled score of 800 in some tests, on the other hand, you might need to answer all the 58 questions correctly to receive a 800. This score calculation is done through equating, a standardized statistical process to ensure fairness and validity of the exam score. Hence, the SAT scores are not curved. To learn more, read our blog on Is the SAT graded on a curve?
Now that you have a clear idea of what makes up your final SAT score, let’s understand how the EBRW and the Math section scores are calculated on the paper and pencil SAT.
How are the SAT Sections Scored?
Both the paper-and-pencil as well as the digital SAT consist of two sections. Each section on both the formats is graded on a scale of 200-800. However, the method of calculating the section scores on the two SAT test versions is slightly different. Click on the tabs below to understand the section scoring structure for both SAT formats in detail.
EBRW section scoring structure
For the EBRW section score, your scores from the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test are added together. The College Board calculates the EBRW score by converting the raw scores of both these tests to the test score of 10-40 and multiplying by 10 respectively. This generates your scaled score for each test. Once the scaled score for each test is obtained, they are added together to get the total score of the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section, ranging from 200-800.
The following SAT EBRW score calculator chart will help you understand more about the score conversion. This SAT conversion table for the EBRW section is drawn from the College Board’s SAT scores published in the Practice Test Paper 10 in 2019.
Raw Score (No. of correct answers) |
Reading Test Score | Writing and Language Test Score |
---|---|---|
0 | 10 | 10 |
1 | 10 | 10 |
2 | 10 | 10 |
3 | 10 | 11 |
4 | 11 | 11 |
5 | 12 | 12 |
6 | 13 | 13 |
7 | 13 | 14 |
8 | 14 | 14 |
9 | 15 | 15 |
10 | 16 | 16 |
11 | 16 | 16 |
12 | 17 | 17 |
13 | 17 | 17 |
14 | 18 | 18 |
15 | 18 | 18 |
16 | 19 | 18 |
17 | 19 | 19 |
18 | 20 | 19 |
19 | 20 | 20 |
20 | 21 | 20 |
21 | 21 | 21 |
22 | 22 | 21 |
23 | 22 | 22 |
24 | 23 | 23 |
25 | 23 | 23 |
26 | 24 | 24 |
27 | 24 | 24 |
28 | 25 | 25 |
29 | 25 | 25 |
30 | 26 | 26 |
31 | 26 | 27 |
32 | 27 | 27 |
33 | 28 | 28 |
34 | 28 | 29 |
35 | 29 | 29 |
36 | 29 | 30 |
37 | 30 | 31 |
38 | 30 | 31 |
39 | 31 | 32 |
40 | 31 | 33 |
41 | 31 | 34 |
42 | 32 | 36 |
43 | 32 | 38 |
44 | 33 | 40 |
45 | 33 | |
46 | 34 | |
47 | 35 | |
48 | 36 | |
49 | 36 | |
50 | 37 | |
51 | 39 | |
52 | 40 |
Math section scoring
On the paper and pencil SAT, the Math section score consists of the non-calculator and the calculator portion scores. In the score calculation done by the College Board, the raw score of the Math Test is converted to the test score of 10-40 and is then multiplied by 20 to get the scaled score for the section ranging from 200-800.
The SAT raw score conversion Table for the Math section below will help you understand how the Math section scores are calculated on the current SAT format. This table is drawn from the College Board’s SAT scores published in the Practice Test Paper 10 in 2019.
Raw Score (No. of correct answers |
Math Test Score |
---|---|
0 | 10 |
1 | 10 |
2 | 10.5 |
3 | 11 |
4 | 11.5 |
5 | 12.5 |
6 | 13.5 |
7 | 14 |
8 | 15 |
9 | 15.5 |
10 | 16 |
11 | 17 |
12 | 17.5 |
13 | 18 |
14 | 18.5 |
15 | 19 |
16 | 19.5 |
17 | 20 |
18 | 20.5 |
19 | 21 |
20 | 21.5 |
21 | 22 |
22 | 22.5 |
23 | 23 |
24 | 23.5 |
25 | 24 |
26 | 24.5 |
27 | 25 |
28 | 25 |
29 | 25.5 |
30 | 26 |
31 | 26 |
32 | 26.5 |
33 | 27 |
34 | 27 |
35 | 27.5 |
36 | 28 |
37 | 28.5 |
38 | 29 |
39 | 29 |
40 | 29.5 |
41 | 30 |
42 | 30.5 |
43 | 30.5 |
44 | 31 |
45 | 31.5 |
46 | 32 |
47 | 32.5 |
48 | 33 |
49 | 33.5 |
50 | 34 |
51 | 34.5 |
52 | 35 |
53 | 35.5 |
54 | 36.5 |
55 | 37.5 |
56 | 38.5 |
57 | 39.5 |
58 | 40 |
RW section scoring structure
For the Reading and Writing section, your raw scores from Module 1 and Module 2 are added together and then the total raw score is converted into scaled scores, ranging from 200-800.
The following SAT RW section score calculator chart will help you understand more about the score conversion. This SAT conversion table is drawn from the College Board’s SAT scores published in the Practice Test Paper 1 for the Digital SAT in 2022.
Please note that the lower and upper score values in the table below represent the score interval on which you may be graded, depending on the difficulty level of questions on each module.
Raw Score (No. of correct answers) |
Reading and Writing Section Score |
|
---|---|---|
Lower | Upper | |
0 | 200 | 200 |
1 | 200 | 200 |
2 | 200 | 200 |
3 | 200 | 200 |
4 | 200 | 200 |
5 | 200 | 200 |
6 | 200 | 200 |
7 | 200 | 210 |
8 | 210 | 230 |
9 | 220 | 240 |
10 | 230 | 250 |
11 | 250 | 270 |
12 | 260 | 280 |
13 | 280 | 300 |
14 | 290 | 310 |
15 | 300 | 320 |
16 | 330 | 350 |
17 | 350 | 370 |
18 | 360 | 380 |
19 | 370 | 390 |
20 | 380 | 400 |
21 | 390 | 410 |
22 | 400 | 420 |
23 | 410 | 430 |
24 | 420 | 440 |
25 | 430 | 450 |
26 | 430 | 450 |
27 | 440 | 460 |
28 | 450 | 470 |
29 | 460 | 480 |
30 | 460 | 480 |
31 | 470 | 490 |
32 | 480 | 500 |
33 | 490 | 510 |
34 | 490 | 510 |
35 | 500 | 520 |
36 | 510 | 530 |
37 | 520 | 540 |
38 | 520 | 540 |
39 | 530 | 550 |
40 | 540 | 560 |
41 | 550 | 570 |
42 | 550 | 570 |
43 | 560 | 580 |
44 | 570 | 590 |
45 | 570 | 590 |
46 | 580 | 600 |
47 | 590 | 610 |
48 | 590 | 610 |
49 | 600 | 620 |
50 | 610 | 630 |
51 | 610 | 630 |
52 | 620 | 640 |
53 | 630 | 650 |
54 | 640 | 660 |
55 | 640 | 660 |
56 | 650 | 670 |
57 | 660 | 680 |
58 | 670 | 690 |
59 | 680 | 700 |
60 | 690 | 710 |
61 | 700 | 720 |
62 | 710 | 730 |
63 | 720 | 740 |
64 | 740 | 760 |
65 | 770 | 780 |
66 | 790 | 800 |
Math section scoring structure
For the Math score, your scores from Module 1 and Module 2 are added together and the total raw score is then converted into scaled scores, ranging from 200-800.
The SAT raw score conversion table for the Math section below will help you understand how the Math section scores are calculated. This SAT conversion table is drawn from the College Board’s SAT scores published in the Practice Test Paper 1 for the Digital SAT in 2022.
Please note that the lower and upper score values in the table below represent the score interval on which you may be graded, depending on the difficulty level of questions in each module.
Raw Score (No. of correct answers) |
Math Section Score | |
---|---|---|
Lower | Upper | |
0 | 200 | 200 |
1 | 200 | 200 |
2 | 200 | 200 |
3 | 200 | 200 |
4 | 200 | 200 |
5 | 200 | 200 |
6 | 200 | 200 |
7 | 200 | 220 |
8 | 200 | 230 |
9 | 220 | 250 |
10 | 250 | 280 |
11 | 270 | 300 |
12 | 290 | 320 |
13 | 300 | 330 |
14 | 310 | 340 |
15 | 320 | 350 |
16 | 330 | 360 |
17 | 340 | 370 |
18 | 350 | 380 |
19 | 360 | 390 |
20 | 370 | 400 |
21 | 380 | 410 |
22 | 400 | 430 |
23 | 410 | 440 |
24 | 420 | 450 |
25 | 430 | 460 |
26 | 440 | 470 |
27 | 450 | 480 |
28 | 460 | 490 |
29 | 470 | 500 |
30 | 480 | 510 |
31 | 490 | 520 |
32 | 510 | 540 |
33 | 520 | 550 |
34 | 530 | 560 |
35 | 540 | 570 |
36 | 550 | 580 |
37 | 560 | 590 |
38 | 570 | 600 |
39 | 590 | 620 |
40 | 600 | 630 |
41 | 610 | 640 |
42 | 620 | 650 |
43 | 630 | 660 |
44 | 640 | 670 |
45 | 660 | 690 |
46 | 670 | 700 |
47 | 690 | 720 |
48 | 700 | 730 |
49 | 720 | 750 |
50 | 740 | 770 |
51 | 760 | 790 |
52 | 770 | 790 |
53 | 790 | 800 |
54 | 800 | 800 |
The RW section and the Math section on the digital SAT has a total of 54 and 44 questions respectively. However, the above score conversion tables display a set of 66 questions on the RW section and 54 questions on the Math section. This is because there might be cases where students need to take a linear paper and pencil exam as a form of accommodation. To make the testing experience and the scoring structure of the linear and digital SAT comparable, both test formats are kept similar with slight differences in the number of questions and test duration.
Refer to the tables below to know how the RW and the Math section on the digital and linear paper and pencil tests are different.
Reading and Writing Section | ||
---|---|---|
Characteristic | Digital SAT | Linear Paper and Pencil |
Test length | 1st module: 25 operational questions and 2 pretest questions 2nd module: 25 operational questions and 2 pretest questions |
1st module: 33 questions, all operational 2nd module: 33 questions, all operational |
Time per module | 1st module: 32 minutes 2nd module: 32 minutes |
1st module: 39 minutes 2nd module: 39 minutes |
Total number of questions | 54 questions | 66 questions |
Total time allotted | 64 minutes | 78 minutes |
Average time per question | 1.19 minutes | 1.19 minutes |
Math Section | ||
---|---|---|
Characteristic | Digital SAT | Linear Pencil and Paper |
Test length (number of operational and pretest questions) | 1st module: 20 operational questions and 2 pretest questions 2nd module: 20 operational questions and 2 pretest questions |
1st module: 27 questions, all operational 2nd module: 27 questions, all operational |
Time per module | 1st module: 35 minutes 2nd module: 35 minutes |
1st module: 43 minutes 2nd module: 43 minutes |
Total number of questions | 44 questions | 54 questions |
Total time allotted | 70 minutes | 86 minutes |
Average time per question | 1.59 minutes | 1.59 minutes |
SAT Score Release Dates 2022- 2023
Following the SAT score release dates is a great way to track when your score will be ready to view. You should expect SAT scores to be released two to three weeks after the testing date. Keep the following table handy to check the result dates for both the SAT and the SAT School Day.
Paper and Pencil Test Date | SAT Score Release Date |
---|---|
Mar 1, 2023 (SAT School Day) | Mar 23, 2023 |
Mar 11, 2023 (SAT) | Mar 24, 2023 |
Mar 22, 2023 (SAT School Day) | Apr 14, 2023 |
Apr 12, 2023 (SAT School Day) | May 3, 2023 |
Apr 25, 2023 (SAT School Day) | May 18, 2023 |
May 6, 2023 (SAT) | May 19, 2023 |
June 3, 2023 (SAT) | June 16, 2023 |
You will receive your SAT scores in about two to three weeks after your test. You can check the schedule of digital SAT score release dates on the SAT official website.
If you are interested to know how to view your SAT score and at what time scores are released, be sure to read our blog on What To Expect on SAT Score Release Day.
How to Get SAT Scores
There are three ways to get your SAT scores:
- Online: The easiest way to access your SAT scores is through the College Board website by logging in to your My SAT account.
- By mail: If you don’t have a College Board account and did your registration via mail, you will automatically receive your scores on paper in the mail.
- By phone: For a fee, you may also receive your scores by phone. You can call (866) 756-7346.
To learn about the components of the SAT score report, read our blog on How to interpret the SAT score report.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a good SAT score?
What is the average SAT score?
The average SAT score is calculated by adding the total score of all the test takers divided by the total number of students who took the test in a particular year. The average SAT score for the year 2021 was 1088.
What is a bad SAT score?
When do SAT scores come out?
How to verify your SAT score?
You have the option to request score verification tools from the College Board using two options: Question and Answer Services and Student Answer Services. To learn about these score verification services in detail, read our blog on verifying your SAT score.
How to send SAT scores to colleges?
Your SAT score report can directly be sent through the College Board. If you choose to have the score report sent before the scores are released, you will have four free submissions. If you prefer to send your official score report after the SAT score release dates, you will have to pay a fee. To know about this process in detail, read our blog on sending SAT scores to colleges.
How does superscoring work?
SAT superscoring is a method of score interpretation that lets you select your best EBRW/RW, and Math section scores from multiple test dates to get a new composite score. To know more about how your SAT is superscored, check out our article on superscoring.
How long are SAT scores valid for?
The SAT scores are valid forever. However, colleges might not consider scores that are older than five years. In such a situation, you should consider taking the SAT again. Remember to check with your prospective college on their SAT score policies.
What SAT score is required for a full scholarship?
Is it better to have a good GPA or a high SAT score?
What is meant by SAT percentiles?
Can colleges use the digital SAT scores in the same way as before?
Will the digital SAT be on a 1600 scale?
How to cancel SAT scores?
You can cancel the scores at the testing location by requesting a Cancellation Form immediately after finishing your exam or sending it via mail. Read our blog on canceling the SAT scores to have in-depth information about the score canceling process.