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.

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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.

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?

Formula for calculating SAT scores

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.

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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
When do digital SAT scores come out?

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)

A good SAT score is determined by the average score of a particular year. The average score for 2021 was 1088. Therefore, any score above this would be considered relatively good. However, you should remember that any score that puts you in the college of your choice is a good 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.

Your score report includes a benchmark displaying how ready you are for college-level coursework. Falling far below this base benchmark is what contributes to a bad SAT score.
It generally takes two to four weeks to get your SAT score report. If you have taken your test on a Saturday, your MCQ scores will be ready in two weeks, however, the SAT School Day results may take closer to three weeks. With the digital SAT Suite, scores will be released more quickly, in days instead of weeks.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Each scholarship program for SAT test takers will have its individual requirements. However, the higher you score the better is your opportunity of being rewarded with a valuable scholarship.
SAT scores are considered more useful for getting admission into college. However, good grades are a significant representation of your hard work and dedication in high school. Although college admissions officers consider both your high school GPA and your SAT score during admission, a low GPA could be balanced by a high SAT score.
The SAT percentile ranges from 1 to 99 and represents the percentage of students who did better or worse than you on the test. To learn about score percentiles in detail, read our blog on What do SAT percentiles mean.
Yes, as part of their comprehensive admissions process, colleges will continue using the digital SAT scores as they used to.
Yes, the digital SAT will still be graded on a scale of 1600. The scores on digital SAT would mean the same thing, so, a score of 1150 on the digital SAT test would be equivalent to a 1150 score on the paper and pencil test.

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.

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