2023
PAPER AND PENCIL SAT
SAT
®
Understanding
Scores
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The SAT Suite
of Assessments
The SAT® Suite of Assessments is an integrated system of The Paper and Pencil SAT
tests that includes the SAT (for students in grades 11 and 12),
Students taking the SAT in the U.S. through fall 2023 will take
the PSAT/NMSQT® and the PSAT™ 10 (for grades 10 and 11),
the paper and pencil version of the test. After that, students
and the PSAT™ 8/9 (for grades 8 and 9).
will take the digital SAT.
The tests measure the same skills and knowledge in grade-
The paper and pencil SAT includes the following sections.
appropriate ways. They work together to show college and
career readiness over time so educators, students, and EVIDENCE-BASED READING AND WRITING
parents can monitor student progress. Their content reflects This section is made up of a Reading Test and a Writing and
the kinds of meaningful, engaging, and challenging work that Language Test, each composed of multiparagraph passages
students find in middle school and high school courses taught and multiple-choice questions.
today. The Reading Test measures comprehension and reasoning
The SAT, the last test in the suite, is a globally recognized skills and focuses on close reading of passages in a wide
college admission test that’s widely accepted at U.S. colleges. array of subject areas. The Writing and Language Test
measures a range of skills, including command of evidence,
The SAT is one of the most accessible, affordable, and fair
expression of ideas, and the use of standard English
ways for students from all backgrounds to show what they conventions in grammar and punctuation.
know and stand out to colleges.
MATH
This Understanding Scores brochure includes information
This section includes multiple-choice and student-produced
for the paper and pencil version of the test—administered
response questions, and is divided into two portions: one that
in U.S. centers and SAT School Day administrations through
allows calculator use and one that does not. It assesses skills
December 2023. More information about the digital version
in algebra, problem solving and data analysis, manipulation of
will be provided in a separate edition of this brochure.
complex equations, geometry, and trigonometry.
Going Digital
The transition to the digital SAT will bring a number of student- and educator-friendly
changes, but many important features of the SAT Suite will stay the same. The SAT
Suite will continue to measure the knowledge and skills that students are learning in
school and that matter most for college and career readiness. The digital SAT Suite
is easier to take, easier to give, more secure, and more relevant. We haven’t simply
created a digital version of the paper and pencil tests—we’re taking full advantage of
what digital testing makes possible.
How the SAT Is Scored Discontinued Tests
Students receive a total score that is the sum of their scores College Board discontinued offering SAT Subject Tests™.
on the two sections. However, students who have taken one or more of these
To calculate section scores, we first compute the student’s hour-long content-based tests will continue to see their
raw score—the number of questions correctly answered— SAT Subject Test scores on their score reports.
for each section. Nothing is deducted for incorrect answers Additionally, some state-provided testing still includes the
or for unanswered questions. SAT Essay, which was discontinued for most administrations
Next, we convert each of the raw section scores to a scaled starting in August 2021. The Essay asks students to read
score of 200–800. This conversion process adjusts for a high-quality source text and write an effective analysis of
slight differences in difficulty among versions of the test that text using evidence drawn from the source. It measures
and provides a score that is consistent across different a range of skills in reading, analysis, and writing. If a student
versions. The scaled scores are the scores provided on took the SAT Essay, their score will continue to be listed
the downloadable score report PDF. separately.
On the paper-based test, students receive additional scores
beyond the total and section scores.
How Schools May Use Score Reports
The student score report clearly summarizes a student’s current
achievement levels and encourages next steps to increase
college and career readiness. Teachers can go over score reports
with students to help them understand what their scores mean.
For example, the score report includes an indicator showing
if a student meets the college readiness benchmark. If the
score report shows a student has met the benchmark, that
means the student is on track to be ready for college when
they graduate high school. If a student isn’t meeting the
benchmark for a section of the test, their teacher may make
a plan with the student to work on their skills in that area.
The score report can also help students see their strengths,
which can increase their confidence and show them subjects
in which they can handle more advanced coursework.
The Sample Score Report on page 4 shows how the PDF
version that students and their school counselors can
download and print will look. Results will be summarized in
the downloadable version. More detailed information and
guidance is accessible in the online score report.
2
SAT Scores
Total Scores SAT ESSAY SCORES
The following three scores for the SAT Essay, if applicable,
The total score is the sum of the two section scores; its
are on a 2–8 scale:
range is 400–1600.
§ Reading
Section Scores § Analysis
Students receive scores in the range of 200–800 for each of § Writing
two sections. These scores aren’t added together or combined with
§ For the paper-based version, the Evidence-Based any other test scores. A student’s online scores show the
Reading and Writing section score combines the scores prompt the student responded to and the student’s essay.
for the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test.
§ The Math section score is derived from the Math Test Score Ranges
score, including the calculator and no-calculator portions. A student’s ability is better represented by score ranges than
points. Score ranges are derived from the standard error of
Additional Scores measurement and show how much student scores would
TEST SCORES likely vary if the student took a different administration of
The range for the following test scores is 10–40: the test under identical conditions.
§ Reading Score ranges:
§ Writing and Language § Total: ±40 points
§ Math § Section: ±30 points
§ Test scores, subscores, and cross-test scores
CROSS-TEST SCORES
(for paper-based SAT only): ±2 points
The range for cross-test scores is also 10–40. These scores
represent performance on select questions across the three Percentiles
tests and show a student’s strengths in the following domains:
A student’s percentile rank represents the percentage of
§ Analysis in History/Social Studies students whose score is equal to or lower than their score.
§ Analysis in Science For example, if a student’s score is in the 75th percentile,
SUBSCORES 75% of a comparison group achieved scores at or below that
Subscores in the range of 1–15 offer feedback on student student’s score. Two types of percentile ranks, comparing
performance in the following skill areas: student scores to two different reference populations, are
provided in this publication for both total and section scores.
§ Command of Evidence
§ Words in Context Nationally Representative Sample Percentiles are derived
§ Expression of Ideas from a research study of U.S. students in grades 11 and 12
and are weighted to represent all U.S. students in those
§ Standard English Conventions
grades, regardless of whether they typically take the SAT.
§ Heart of Algebra
SAT User Percentiles are based on the actual scores of
§ Problem Solving and Data Analysis
students in the past three graduating classes who took
§ Passport to Advanced Math
the current SAT during high school. These user percentiles
are reported on tests completed in August 2021 through
June 2022.
3
Sample Online Student Score Report
Viewing the Score Report
Schools should download and share score report PDFs with their students. Students that have a College Board account can
view their scores online.
Next Steps
The dashboard includes
Total Score links to Popular Tools like
Selecting the arrow next
Student Search Service™,
to the score leads to their
AP Potential™, and SAT
detailed score breakdown.
Registration.
Dashboard
Section Scores
This student’s Evidence-
Based Reading and Writing
score is 490, and their Math Score Details
score is 520. In Evidence- Selecting Score Details
Based Reading and Writing, takes the student to more
the student’s score is information about test scores
exceeding the benchmark and subscores.
and they are on track for
college readiness. In Math, Test Questions
however, the student’s score is For SAT administrations,
approaching the benchmark, students have the opportunity
but they are not quite on track. to access question content
and answer explanations with
Percentiles their scores.
This student scored as well
as or better in Evidence-
Based Reading and Writing
than 44% of a nationally
representative group of
juniors. In Math, they scored Score Overview
as well as or better than 57%
of a nationally representative
group of juniors.
Test Scores
Test scores range from 10 to 40.
This student scored a 26 and is
in the yellow on the Reading Test,
indicating they are below the
average student performance of
those who met the benchmark
by one year or less.
Score Details
4
Percentiles for Total Scores
Nationally Nationally Nationally
Representative Representative Representative
Total Score Sample SAT User Total Score Sample SAT User Total Score Sample SAT User
1600 99+ 99+ 1180 78 73 760 9 9
1590 99+ 99+ 1170 77 71 750 8 8
1580 99+ 99+ 1160 76 70 740 7 7
1570 99+ 99+ 1150 74 69 730 6 6
1560 99+ 99 1140 73 67 720 5 5
1550 99+ 99 1130 71 66 710 4 4
1540 99+ 99 1120 70 64 700 4 3
1530 99+ 99 1110 69 63 690 3 3
1520 99+ 98 1100 67 61 680 2 2
1510 99 98 1090 65 60 670 2 2
1500 99 98 1080 63 58 660 1 1
1490 99 97 1070 61 56 650 1 1
1480 99 97 1060 60 55 640 1 1
1470 99 96 1050 58 53 630 1 1
1460 99 96 1040 56 52 620 1- 1
1450 99 96 1030 54 50 610 1- 1-
1440 98 95 1020 52 48 600 1- 1-
1430 98 95 1010 50 47 590 1- 1-
1420 98 94 1000 48 45 580 1- 1-
1410 97 94 990 46 43 570 1- 1-
1400 97 93 980 44 42 560 1- 1-
1390 97 92 970 42 40 550 1- 1-
1380 96 92 960 40 39 540 1- 1-
1370 96 91 950 38 37 530 1- 1-
1360 95 90 940 36 36 520 1- 1-
1350 94 90 930 35 34 510 1- 1-
1340 94 89 920 33 32 500 1- 1-
1330 93 88 910 31 31 490 1- 1-
1320 93 87 900 29 29 480 1- 1-
1310 92 87 890 27 28 470 1- 1-
1300 91 86 880 26 26 460 1- 1-
1290 90 85 870 24 25 450 1- 1-
1280 89 84 860 23 23 440 1- 1-
1270 88 83 850 21 22 430 1- 1-
1260 87 82 840 20 20 420 1- 1-
1250 86 81 830 18 19 410 1- 1-
1240 85 80 820 17 17 400 1- 1-
1230 84 79 810 16 16
1220 83 78 800 14 14
1210 82 76 790 13 13
1200 81 75 780 11 12
1190 80 74 770 10 10
5
Percentiles for Section Scores
Evidence-Based Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing Math Reading and Writing Math
Nationally Nationally Nationally Nationally
Representative Representative Representative Representative
Total Score Sample SAT User Sample SAT User Total Score Sample SAT User Sample SAT User
800 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 400 16 13 15 19
790 99+ 99+ 99+ 99 390 13 10 13 16
780 99+ 99+ 99 98 380 11 8 10 13
770 99+ 99 99 97 370 9 6 9 11
760 99+ 99 99 96 360 7 5 7 8
750 99 98 98 95 350 5 3 5 6
740 99 97 98 94 340 3 2 4 4
730 99 96 97 94 330 2 2 3 3
720 98 95 97 93 320 2 1 2 2
710 97 94 96 92 310 1 1 1 2
700 97 93 95 91 300 1 1 1 1
690 96 92 94 90 290 1- 1- 1- 1
680 95 90 93 89 280 1- 1- 1- 1
670 93 89 92 87 270 1- 1- 1- 1
660 92 87 91 86 260 1- 1- 1- 1-
650 90 85 90 85 250 1- 1- 1- 1-
640 88 83 89 83 240 1- 1- 1- 1-
630 86 81 87 82 230 1- 1- 1- 1-
620 84 78 85 80 220 1- 1- 1- 1-
610 81 76 83 78 210 1- 1- 1- 1-
600 79 73 81 76 200 1- 1- 1- 1-
590 76 71 79 73
580 74 68 76 71
570 71 65 73 68
560 68 62 71 66
550 65 59 68 63
540 62 56 65 60
530 58 53 61 57
520 55 50 57 53
510 51 47 52 49
500 48 43 47 46
490 44 40 44 44
480 41 37 40 41
470 38 33 36 38
460 34 30 32 35
450 31 27 29 33
440 28 24 25 30
430 24 21 23 27
420 22 18 20 24
410 19 15 17 22
