The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Understanding how your raw scores are converted into scaled scores is crucial for interpreting your performance. This calculator helps you estimate your scaled SAT scores based on the number of questions you answer correctly in each section.
How SAT Scoring Works (Digital SAT)
The digital SAT is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600, comprising two sections:
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW): Scored from 200 to 800.
Math: Scored from 200 to 800.
The process involves several steps:
Raw Score Calculation: You earn one point for each question answered correctly. Incorrect answers do not deduct points. Your raw score for a section is simply the total number of correct answers.
Equating: Because the difficulty of test forms can vary slightly, the College Board uses a process called "equating." This adjusts raw scores to account for these variations, ensuring that a score earned on one test form is comparable to a score earned on another.
Scoring Bands: The equated raw scores are then converted into scaled scores within specific bands. For example, a certain range of raw EBRW scores might correspond to scaled scores between 400-500, another range to 500-600, and so on. The Math section follows a similar conversion.
Using This Calculator
This calculator provides an *estimation* of your scaled SAT scores. The exact conversion is complex and proprietary to the College Board, often using sophisticated statistical models and specific scoring guides for each test administration.
To use the calculator:
Enter the number of questions you answered correctly in the Reading & Writing section.
Enter the number of questions you answered correctly in the Math section.
Input the total number of questions for each section (default values are provided for the current digital SAT format).
Click "Calculate Scores".
The calculator will then provide an estimated scaled score for both the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and the Math section. Remember that these are approximations, and your official scores will be provided by the College Board.
Example:
Let's say a student answers 48 out of 52 questions correctly in Reading & Writing and 40 out of 44 questions correctly in Math.
Correct Reading & Writing: 48
Total Reading & Writing Questions: 52
Correct Math: 40
Total Math Questions: 44
Inputting these values into the calculator would yield estimated scaled scores. Based on typical scoring ranges, this performance might result in scaled scores around 650-700 for EBRW and 700-750 for Math. The specific conversion is dynamic.
function calculateSatScores() {
var correctReading = parseFloat(document.getElementById("correctReading").value);
var correctMath = parseFloat(document.getElementById("correctMath").value);
var totalReadingQuestions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("totalReadingQuestions").value);
var totalMathQuestions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("totalMathQuestions").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = ""; // Clear previous results
// — Input Validation —
if (isNaN(correctReading) || correctReading totalReadingQuestions) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid number for correct Reading & Writing answers.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(correctMath) || correctMath totalMathQuestions) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid number for correct Math answers.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(totalReadingQuestions) || totalReadingQuestions <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid total for Reading & Writing questions.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(totalMathQuestions) || totalMathQuestions <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid total for Math questions.';
return;
}
// — Estimated Scoring Logic (Simplified Approximation) —
// This is a simplified approximation. Actual SAT scoring uses complex equating.
// The range is typically 200-800 for each section.
// We'll map the proportion of correct answers to a scaled score.
var readingProportion = correctReading / totalReadingQuestions;
var mathProportion = correctMath / totalMathQuestions;
// Approximate scaling: (proportion * 600) + 200
// This maps 0% correct to 200, 100% correct to 800.
var estimatedReadingScore = Math.round((readingProportion * 600) + 200);
var estimatedMathScore = Math.round((mathProportion * 600) + 200);
// Ensure scores are within the valid 200-800 range
estimatedReadingScore = Math.max(200, Math.min(800, estimatedReadingScore));
estimatedMathScore = Math.max(200, Math.min(800, estimatedMathScore));
var totalScore = estimatedReadingScore + estimatedMathScore;
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated EBRW Score: " + estimatedReadingScore + " " +
"Estimated Math Score: " + estimatedMathScore + " " +
"Total Estimated Score: " + totalScore;
resultDiv.style.backgroundColor = '#d4edda'; // Success green background for results
resultDiv.style.borderColor = '#28a745';
resultDiv.style.color = '#155724';
}