The digital SAT is one of the most important tests you can take in your academic career. Without a good score, you might not be able to get into the college of your choice, which can derail your future plans. It’s not the most important thing you’ll do in your life, but it is a big part of the academic-career puzzle. So, what score should you aim for, and what do the scores even mean?
| Section | Maximim Points Possible | Min. Target Score (CB CCRB) | Avg. Target Score (~75th percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 800 | 530 | 600 |
| Math | 800 | 480 | 625 |
| Total | 1600 | 1010 | 1225 |
Breakdown of the SAT Scoring Style
As you probably know, the digital SAT exam consists of two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math.
The minimum possible score is 400, which you get just by being present on testing day. Even if you get every question wrong or leave every answer blank, you’ll get a 400; 200 minimum possible points per section (which is also a minimum 100 points per module).
In each section, you can score up to 800 points for a total of 1600 points in the entire exam. You only have 32-35 minutes to finish each module, so increasing your speed is a vital component of exam prep.
You can get up to 800 points for each section.
Points for Correct Answers
The methodology used to measure points per question on the digital SAT isn’t quite known yet. The College Board is keeping the scoring rubric a secret for now. Therefore, there is no specific number of correct answers needed to achieve the desired outcome.
What we do know is that every question is typically worth an estimated 10-20 points, depending on the difficulty of the problem and the curve of scoring (which we’ll talk more about in the next section).
You do not lose points for incorrect or blank answers, so be sure to never leave any problems blank, even if you have to guess.
Adaptive Modules and Scoring
Adaptive testing is a new approach with the implementation of the digital SAT. Before, with the paper SAT, each student’s questions were predetermined since they were all printed in the booklet at once.
With the digital system using Bluebook, each section of the exam has been broken into two modules with the purpose of providing more appropriate problems in the second module. Based on the student's performance in module one, module two becomes harder or easier. The more correct difficult problems submitted, the higher the chance of getting the harder second module.
If a student is routed to the harder version of module two, they will have a chance at achieving a perfect score of 800. Students routed to the easier module will only be able to achieve a maximum of 600.
This may not sound fair, but if a student struggled with harder questions in module one, directing them to the easier module two means they have a better chance at getting more correct answers. Thus, they can get a higher score than they would if they were also directed to the harder second module and got most of the problems wrong.
It appears that students routed to the easier module two can expect their scores to be capped at 600-640 per section. If you get both easier modules, your entire score can only be at max 1200-1280 (which is still very good). However, if you're able to get the harder module two for either Math or for Reading and Writing, your potential score can be higher.
Find out more about the details of the SAT as a college entrance exam.
It typically takes 2-4 weeks for SAT scores to be released. You will gain access to your scores, and if you requested your results to be automatically submitted to a college(s), they will receive the scores at around the same time.
Pretest Questions (aka “Experimental Questions”)
Each module has two prototype questions that are worth no points mixed in with the real questions. There is no way to tell which questions are the pretest questions, so still be sure to answer every problem.
This is good information to know because if you know you got some problems wrong but still got a perfect score, it means you only answered the pretest questions wrong.
With the data collected, the test makers can further refine the question to appear as a real problem on a future exam.
What Is Each Section Evaluating?
In each section, there are specific skills being evaluated. You may or may not know which skill a problem is evaluating. Be aware that these are the types of skills you need to sharpen in your practice tests, exam prep, and study sessions.
Reading and Writing Section
- Craft and Structure
- Information and Ideas
- Standard English Conventions
- Expression of Ideas
Math Section
- Algebra
- Advanced Math
- Problem Solving and Data Analysis
- Geometry and Trigonometry
- Student-Produced Response (SPR) Questions
Understanding Your SAT Score Breakdown
With adaptive questions and advanced software capabilities, the method used to evaluate students is incredibly complex. Plus, no one besides the test’s developers really understands the scoring method; it’s an industry secret.
What IS easy to determine is your given score and your percentile rank given in your results.
In past years, one could easily calculate their raw score (how many questions they answered correctly) and translate it with a chart to get their test score, since every problem was worth one raw point. But the problems on the DSAT exam are each worth a different number of points, which is unknown to everyone except the test makers. For now, we have to estimate that each problem is worth about 10-20 total points, depending on difficulty.
Your Score and Percentile Rank
Understanding your composite score (total) is very straightforward: simply look at the score given on your results page. It's the scores of each section added together and will be between 400 and 1600.
If your score doesn’t meet your target, you may want to study more and schedule another test. Many students perform better on their second attempt.
Some colleges accept superscore submissions. Superscores are the highest score you received in each section across all SATs you take. For example, if in your first attempt you scored a 700 in Reading and Writing and a 500 in Math, and in your second attempt you scored a 500 in Reading and Writing and a 700 in Math, your superscore is 1400.
You can also see your percentile scores, which compare you to all the other test-takers in your batch. If you ranked in the 50th percentile, for example, it means you scored the same as or higher than 50% of all other students who took the SAT along with you. Most students aim to be in the 75th percentile, or even in the 90th percentile, for prestigious universities.
Test-to-Test Variability (aka “Curve”)
Every student who takes the exam is measured as a part of and against a complex equation, bell curve, and z-curve.
The math (calculus, really) behind the SAT scoring system is very complex, and knowing it doesn’t help you increase your score. But, it does help you visualize what it going on when you submit your answers.
The basics you might want to know are:
- The questions you get right and wrong contribute to the test’s evaluation of your student level (and are used to determine which module you get in the second half of each portion).
- The test takes into consideration how likely you should have been to get an answer right based on your student level (for example, if you’re an above-average student, there was an above-average probability of you answering a medium-difficulty question).
- More points are given for harder problems.
The College Board College and Career Readiness Benchmark (CB CCRB)
The recommended minimum score to aim for is 530 for Reading and Writing and 480 for Math. These figures are what the College Board has determined is the minimum a student should be able to achieve to be prepared for college and a career. Note that this comes out to 1010, a very achievable total.
Note that not meeting these benchmarks doesn’t mean you cannot attend college or get a job, and it doesn’t mean you won’t do well in those endeavors. It’s just one type of data point in an education system made up of millions of students.
SAT Score Interpretation
Categorizing what is a "good" and "bad" score on the SAT is not necessarily helpful or accurate. However, it's often the case that composite scores are categorized in the following ways:
A perfect score is 1600.
A very good score is usually considered to be in the 96th-99th percentile, which is usually 1450-1590.
Usually considered to be in the 90th-95th percentile, which is usually about 1350-1450.
Usually considered to be in the 75th percentile, which is usually about 1210-1350.
The average score is the 50th percentile, usually about 1050.
A poor score is considered to be below the 50th percentile.
Strategies for Improving Your SAT Scores
You should always aim to get the highest scores possible on the SAT.
That said, it can help to aim for specific numbers if you plan to take the test 2-3 times (3 being the maximum number of tries recommended). Your study strategies can help you improve your speed and accuracy for better results and SAT score improvement.
Target the Score Required for Your Choice Colleges
Research what the average accepted SAT score for the previous year was at your college(s) of choice. You’ll want to study hard to achieve a similar score to give yourself the best chance at admission.
However, note that your grades and high school GPA, extracurricular activities including clubs and sports, volunteer history, and other unique factors are also important aspects of your college application. And, of course, the college admissions essay.
Take the SAT More Than Once to Get a Higher Superscore
If possible, take the SAT exam 2-3 times. You can focus more heavily on the Reading and Writing section in one attempt, and the Math section in another. That way, you'll guarantee a high score in both sections even though they're from different dates. Your superscore will greatly improve!
Answer Every Question
Never leave any multiple-choice answers blank. If you don't have time to think critically about them or really don't know the answer, make a logical guess. For open-ended math questions, give an honest try and put something that relates to the question in the answer box.
Skip Hard Questions First
Answer the easiest questions first. Getting 5 easier questions right for 50 additional points is better than spending too much time on 1 harder problem, which earns you a maximum of 20 points. (Again, we are guessing about the exact number of points questions are worth, but this is the general idea.)
Take Practice Tests
An obvious (yet tedious) way to improve scores is to perform timed practice tests with the Bluebook application. This will help you get a feel for the format, the passage of time, and how to pace yourself, and get familiar with the Bluebook interface. Identify the areas where you make the most mistakes and study those concepts specifically.
Find out more study tips in our companion study guide article!
While your SAT score is not the be-all and end-all in your academic or professional career, and many colleges are now making SAT scores optional on their applications, the test is still an important cornerstone. Don't let a bad result make you feel like you are a failure or that you can't or shouldn't succeed in life. There are plenty of paths forward that don't require a good score to be successful!
At the same time, if you can score well, you really should try. The benefits of taking the test far outweigh the hassle of preparation and test day.
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