how to find your sat essay score

SAT Essay Scores Explained

On january 19th, 2021, college board announced that they will no longer administer the sat subject tests in the u.s. and that the essay would be retired. read our blog post  to understand what this means in the near term and what the college board has in store for students down the road., our articles on subject tests and the sat essay will remain on our site for reference purposes as colleges and students transition to a revised testing landscape..

Why are there no percentiles for the essay on an SAT score report?

No percentiles or norms are provided in student reports. Even colleges do not receive any summary statistics. Given Compass’ concerns about the inaccuracy of essay scoring and the notable failures of the ACT on that front, the de-emphasis of norms would seem to be a good thing. The problem is that 10% of colleges are sticking with the SAT Essay as an admission requirement . While those colleges will not receive score distribution reports from the College Board, it is not difficult for them to construct their own statistics—officially or unofficially—based on thousands of applicants. Colleges can determine a “good score,” but students cannot. This asymmetry of information is harmful to students, as they are left to speculate how well they have performed and how their scores will be interpreted. Through our analysis, Compass hopes to provide students and parents more context for evaluating SAT Essay scores.

How has scoring changed? Is it still part of a student’s Total Score?

On the old SAT, the essay was a required component of the Writing section and made up approximately one-third of a student’s 200–800 score. The essay score itself was simply the sum (2–12) of two readers’ 1–6 scores. Readers were expected to grade holistically and not to focus on individual components of the writing. The SAT essay came under a great deal of criticism for being too loosely structured. Factual accuracy was not required; it was not that difficult to make pre-fabricated material fit the prompt; many colleges found the 2–12 essay scores of little use; and the conflation of the essay and “Writing” was, in some cases, blocking the use of the SAT Writing score—which included grammar and usage—entirely.

With the 2016 overhaul of the SAT came an attempt to make the essay more academically defensible while also making it optional (as the ACT essay had long been). The essay score is not a part of the 400–1600 score. Instead, a student opting to take the SAT Essay receives 2–8 scores in three dimensions: reading, analysis, and writing. No equating or fancy lookup table is involved. The scores are simply the sum of two readers’ 1–4 ratings in each dimension. There is no official totaling or averaging of scores, although colleges may choose to do so.

Readers avoid extremes

What is almost universally true about grading of standardized test essays is that readers gravitate to the middle of the scale. The default instinct is to nudge a score above or below a perceived cutoff or midpoint rather than to evenly distribute scores. When the only options are 1, 2, 3, or 4, the consequence is predictable—readers give out a lot of 2s and 3s and very few 1s and 4s. In fact, our analysis shows that 80% of all reader scores are 2s or 3s. This, in turn, means that most of the dimension scores (the sum of the two readers) range from 4 to 6. Analysis scores are outliers. A third of readers give essays a 1 in Analysis. Below is the distribution of reader scores across all dimensions.

What is a good SAT Essay score?

By combining multiple data sources—including extensive College Board scoring information—Compass has estimated the mean and mode (most common) essay scores for students at various score levels. We also found that the reading and writing dimensions were similar, while analysis scores lagged by a point across all sub-groups. These figures should not be viewed as cutoffs for “good” scores. The loose correlation of essay score to Total Score and the high standard deviation of essay scores means that students at all levels see wide variation of scores. The average essay-taking student scores a 1,080 on the SAT and receives just under a 5/4/5.

College Board recently released essay results for the class of 2017, so score distributions are now available. From these, percentiles can also be calculated. We provide these figures with mixed feelings. On the one hand, percentile scores on such an imperfect measure can be highly misleading. On the other hand, we feel that students should understand the full workings of essay scores.

The role of luck

What is frustrating to many students on the SAT and ACT is that they can score 98th percentile in most areas and then get a “middling” score on the essay. This result is actually quite predictable. Whereas math and verbal scores are the result of dozens of objective questions, the essay is a single question graded subjectively. To replace statistical concepts with a colloquial one—far more “luck” is involved than on the multiple-choice sections. What text is used in the essay stimulus? How well will the student respond to the style and subject matter? Which of the hundreds of readers were assigned to grade the student’s essay? What other essays has the reader recently scored?

Even good writers run into the unpredictability involved and the fact that essay readers give so few high scores. A 5 means that the Readers A and B gave the essay a 2 and a 3, respectively. Which reader was “right?” If the essay had encountered two readers like Reader A, it would have received a 4. If the essay had been given two readers like Reader B, it would have received a 6. That swing makes a large difference if we judge scores exclusively by percentiles, but essay scores are simply too blurry to make such cut-and-dry distinctions. More than 80% of students receive one of three scores—4, 5, or 6 on the reading and writing dimensions and 3, 4, or 5 on analysis.

What do colleges expect?

It’s unlikely that many colleges will release a breakdown of essay scores for admitted students—especially since so few are requiring it. What we know from experience with the ACT , though, is that even at the most competitive schools in the country, the 25th–75th percentile scores of admitted students were 8–10 on the ACT’s old 2–12 score range. We expect that things will play out similarly for the SAT and that most students admitted to highly selective colleges will have domain scores in the 5–7 range (possibly closer to 4–6 for analysis). It’s even less likely for students to average a high score across all three areas than it is to obtain a single high mark. We estimate that only a fraction of a percent of students will average an 8—for example [8/8/8, 7/8/8, 8/7/8, or 8,8,7].

Update as of October 2017. The University of California system has published the 25th–75th percentile ranges for enrolled students. It has chosen to work with total scores. The highest ranges—including those at UCLA and Berkeley—are 17–20. Those scores are inline with our estimates above.

How will colleges use the domain scores?

Colleges have been given no guidance by College Board on how to use essay scores for admission. Will they sum the scores? Will they average them? Will they value certain areas over others? Chances are that if you are worrying too much about those questions, then you are likely losing sight of the bigger picture. We know of no cases where admission committees will make formulaic use of essay scores. The scores are a very small, very error-prone part of a student’s testing portfolio.

How low is too low?

Are 3s and 4s, then, low enough that an otherwise high-scoring student should retest? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. In general, it is a mistake to retest solely to improve an essay score unless a student is confident that the SAT Total Score can be maintained or improved. A student with a 1340 PSAT and 1280 SAT may feel that it is worthwhile to bring up low essay scores because she has previously shown that she can do better on the Evidence-based Reading and Writing and Math, as well. A student with a 1400 PSAT and 1540 SAT should think long and hard before committing to a retest. Admission results from the class of 2017 may give us some added insight into the use of SAT Essay scores.

Will colleges continue to require the SAT Essay?

For the class of 2017, Compass has prepared a list of the SAT Essay and ACT Writing policies for 360 of the top colleges . Several of the largest and most prestigious public university systems—California, Michigan, and Texas, for example, still require the essay, and a number of highly competitive private colleges do the same—for example, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.

The number of excellent colleges not requiring the SAT Essay, though, is long and getting longer. Compass expects even more colleges to drop the essay requirement for the classes of 2018 and 2019. Policies are typically finalized in late spring or during the summer.

Should I skip the essay entirely?

A common question regarding SAT scores is whether the whole mess can be avoided by skipping the essay. After all, if only about 10% of colleges are requiring the section, is it really that important? Despite serious misgivings about the test and the ways scores are interpreted, Compass still recommends that most students take the essay unless they are certain that they will not be applying to any of the colleges requiring or recommending it. Nationally, about 70% of students choose to take the essay on at least one SAT administration. When looking at higher scoring segments, that quickly rises to 85–90%. Almost all Compass students take the SAT Essay at least once to insure that they do not miss out on educational opportunities.

Should I prepare for the SAT Essay?

Most Compass students decide to do some preparation for the essay, because taking any part of a test “cold” can be an unpleasant experience, and students want to avoid feeling like a retake is necessary. In addition to practicing exercises and tests, most students can perform well enough on the SAT Essay after 1–2 hours of tutoring. Students taking a Compass practice SAT will also receive a scored essay. Students interested in essay writing tips for the SAT can refer to Compass blog posts on the difference between the ACT and SAT tasks  and the use of first person on the essays .

Will I be able to see my essay?

Yes. ACT makes it difficult to obtain a copy of your Writing essay, but College Board includes it as part of your online report.

Will colleges have access to my essay? Even if they don’t require it?

Yes, colleges are provided with student essays. We know of very few circumstances where SAT Essay reading is regularly conducted. Colleges that do not require the SAT Essay fall into the “consider” and “do not consider” camps. Schools do not always list this policy on their website or in their application materials, so it is hard to have a comprehensive list. We recommend contacting colleges for more information. In general, the essay will have little to no impact at colleges that do not require or recommend it.

Is the SAT Essay a reason to take the ACT instead?

Almost all colleges that require the SAT Essay require Writing for ACT-takers. The essays are very different on the two tests, but neither can be said to be universally “easier” or “harder.” Compass recommends that the primary sections of the tests determine your planning. Compass’ content experts have also written a piece on how to attack the ACT essay .

Key links in this post:

ACT and SAT essay requirements ACT Writing scores explained Comparing ACT and SAT essay tasks The use of first person in ACT and SAT essays Understanding the “audience and purpose” of the ACT essay Compass proctored practice testing for the ACT, SAT, and Subject Tests

About Art Sawyer

Art graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was the top-ranked liberal arts student in his class. Art pioneered the one-on-one approach to test prep in California in 1989 and co-founded Compass Education Group in 2004 in order to bring the best ideas and tutors into students' homes and computers. Although he has attained perfect scores on all flavors of the SAT and ACT, he is routinely beaten in backgammon.

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Hi! I’m a high school junior who took the October and November SATs. I got a 1500 on October and then retook it to get a 1590 in November. I’m very happy with my score, but my essays are troubling me. I got a 6-4-6 in October and thought I would improve in November, but I got a 6-3-6. I really cannot improve my actual SAT score, but I don’t understand the essay. I’ve always been a good writer and have consistently been praised for it in English class and outside of class. Is this essay score indicative of my writing skill? And will this essay hurt my chances at Ivy League and other top tier schools? None of the schools I plan on applying to require it, but, since I have to submit it, will it hurt my chances? Thank you so much.

Maya, The essay is becoming increasingly irrelevant. Honestly, a 6-4-6 is a fine score and will not hurt your chances for admission. It’s something of an odd writing task, so I wouldn’t worry that it doesn’t match your writing skills elsewhere.

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Students taking the latest version of the SAT have a lot of questions about the Essay section in particular. When the College Board redesigned the SAT in 2016, the Essay section was the aspect of the test that changed most substantially.

As a result, it is the section that is least understood. Keep reading to learn how we approach setting a good target score for this often enigmatic section of the SAT.

What Is the SAT Essay?

Students taking the optional Essay section are provided with a written argument and asked to analyze it. Check out the College Board’s example prompt with sample graded responses to get a sense of what the exam looks like.

Is the SAT Essay Required?

This is the only optional section of the SAT. It does not impact your overall score out of 1600. Instead, your Essay grade stands alone on your score report.

While the College Board does not require the SAT Essay, certain schools do. 

Schools that Require the SAT Essay

• All of the University of California schools
• Benedictine University
• City University London
• Delaware State University
• DeSales University
• Dominican University of California
• Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
• Howard University
• John Wesley University
• Kentucky State University
• Martin Luther College
• Molloy College
• Schreiner University
• Soka University of America
• Southern California Institute of Architecture
• Texas A&M University—Galveston
• United States Military Academy (West Point)
• University of North Texas
• West Virginia University Institute of Technology
• Western Carolina University

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Additionally, these schools do not require the SAT Essay but recommend it.

Schools that Recommend the SAT Essay

• Abilene Christian University
• Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Allegheny College
• Amherst College
• Art Institute of Houston
• Augsburg University
• Austin College
• Caldwell University
• California State University, Northridge
• Central Connecticut State University
• Central Michigan University
• Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
• Coastal Carolina University
• Colby College
• College of Wooster
• Colorado School of Mines
• Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
• Corban University
• Cornerstone University
• Dallas Christian College
• Duke University
• Eastern Illinois University
• Eastern Nazarene College
• Easternn University
• Endicott College
• Five Towns College
• Gallaudet University
• George Washington University
• Georgia Highlands College
• Greenville University
• Gwynedd Mercy University
• High Point University
• Hofstra University
• Holy Family University
• Husson University
• Indiana University South Bend
• Indiana University Southeast
• Indiana Wesleyan University
• Inter American University of Puerto Rico: Barranquitas Campus
• Juilliard School
• Keiser University (West Palm Beach)
• Lehigh University
• Madonna University
• Manhattan College
• Marymount California University
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy
• McMurry University
• Mercy College
• Modern College of Design
• Montana Tech of the University of Montana
• Morehouse College
• Mount Saint Mary College
• Mount St. Joseph University
• National-Louis University
• New Jersey City University
• Nichols College
• North Park University
• Occidental College
• Ohio University
• Oregon State University
• Purdue University Northwest
• Randall University
• Randolph-Macon College
• Reading Area Community College
• Rowan University
• Rutgers University—Camden Campus
• Rutgers University—Newark Campus
• Saint Michael’s College
• Seton Hill University
• Shiloh University
• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
• Silver Lake College of the Holy Family
• Southern Illinois University of Carbondale
• Southern Oregon University
• Spring Hill College
• Sul Ross State University
• SUNY Farmingdale State College
• SUNY University at Stony Brook
• Tarleton State University
• Texas A&M International University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas State University
• The King’s College
• United States Air Force Academy
• University of Evansville
• University of La Verne
• University of Mary Hardin—Baylor
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• University of Minnesota: Twin Cities
• University of New England
• University of Northwestern—St. Paul
• University of the Virgin Islands
• University of Toledo
• University of Washington Bothell
• VanderCook College of Music
• Virginia Union University
• Wabash College
• Webb Institute
• Webber International University
• Wesleyan College
• William Jewell College

Should You Take the SAT Essay Section?

We recommend taking the Essay section just in case you want to apply to one of the schools that requires or recommends it. If you’re absolutely sure you won’t apply to any of these schools, you can skip it. Just know that you can’t retake the SAT essay alone, so if you change your mind and want to apply to a school that requires the Essay section, you’ll have to retake the whole test.

How Is the SAT Essay Scored?

Your essay will be evaluated on three criteria—Reading, Analysis, and Writing.

The Reading grade is meant to gauge how well you understand the passage content. Did you absorb the information you just read? Especially when the details are not intuitive, your readers will be checking to see that you read closely and caught the nuance of the piece.

The Analysis score relates to how well you represented the argument that the writer made. Your goal in the Essay section should be to determine what the writer’s main argument is and describe how they present it. 

Finally, your score in Writing reflects your own command over the English language. Your capacity to write clear, well-structured sentences that use a wide range of vocabulary will determine this grade.

Two readers each give the essay a score between 1 and 4, depending on how well each reader thinks you did in the three categories. Their grades are then summed to give you a three-part grade. The highest grade you can receive is 8, 8, 8, while the lowest possible score is 2, 2, 2. To give an example, one student may score a 5, 4, 4, which would mean that their readers submitted the following feedback:

What’s a Good, Average, and Bad SAT Essay Score?

In 2019, the mean score on the Reading and Writing for the SAT Essay was a 5. For the Analysis section, the mean score was a little lower at 3, simply because Analysis is a skill that high school students spend less time honing than Reading or Writing.

For a detailed breakdown of how 2019’s test takers performed, here are a few score distributions:

Here’s a rough breakdown of the percentile scores based on the most recent College Board data. Here’s how this chart works: say you scored a 6 on the Reading section. According to the data, that means that you performed better than 70% of other essay writers.

SAT Essay Score Percentile Rankings

Source: College Board and CollegeVine data analysis

How Should You Understand and Improve Your SAT Essay Score?

Unless your SAT Essay score is rock-bottom, you should not feel the need to retest just to improve your Essay score. If you received a low score that you feel isn’t representative of your writing abilities, focus on crafting stellar college essays instead of retaking the SAT just for the Essay section.

If you were unhappy with your SAT Essay score AND your overall SAT score, however, then you should consider retaking the test with the Essay section. 

Here are a few tips on how to improve your SAT Essay score:

1. Annotate the passage. Read carefully. Start by boxing the main argument of the passage, then put a star next to three or four places where the author employs a strategy to win the readers over. These may include:

• Refuting a counter argument
• Raising a question
• Providing anecdotal evidence
• Using statistics to support a claim
• Citing historical examples
• Employing rhetorical devices, such as metaphor

2. State the main point of the passage author. Make it clear that you understand what the author is trying to say by stating their thesis clearly in your essay response. No one reading your essay should have any doubt as to what you think the main point of the passage is.

Make the author’s thesis clear at the beginning of your response as well as in your concluding paragraph. Tie back to it often within your body paragraphs too.

3. Outline before you write. Spend 3-5 minutes organizing your thoughts. Build up 2-4 points about the argument’s structure. Think of yourself as a debate coach. Give feedback on the persuasion tactics the author used. Which ones were most effective? What could they have done to sway their audience even more?

Remembered the strategies you starred when you were annotating? These are the building blocks of the author’s argument, and your essay should provide analysis of how effectively these building blocks were used.

4. DO NOT include your personal opinion. The essay exists to assess whether you can analyze an argument. It has nothing to do with your personal views. If you find yourself defending or disagreeing with the passage, that is a good sign that you are missing a chance to analyze the argument’s structure.

5. Proofread your essay. Give yourself 2 minutes towards the end of the section to improve the language you used. Search for spelling and grammar mistakes, as well as weak word choice. Replace monosyllabic words like “good” and “is” with more dynamic vocabulary, such as “striking” or “constitutes.” This is a quick and easy way to boost your Writing score.

For more advice on how to study for the Essay section, check out our How to Get a Perfect Score on the SAT Essay and The Ultimate Guide to the New SAT Essay .

Want to know how your SAT score impacts your chances of acceptance to your dream schools? Our free Chancing Engine will not only help you predict your odds, but also let you know how you stack up against other applicants, and which aspects of your profile to improve. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to gain access to our Chancing Engine and get a jumpstart on your college strategy!

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SAT Essay Scores: Score Calculation and SAT Essay Score Range

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Content Writer Study Abroad Exams | Updated On - Jun 29, 2024

Highlights:

• SAT essay score is measured by 3 sections: reading, analysis, and writing .
• Each section of SAT essay is calculated on a 2 to 8 level .
• From 2021, SAT essay was discontinued .
• Achieving 20 out of 24 SAT exam essay scores was accepted by most of the top universities. 

SAT essay score is measured on a scale of 2 to 8 for each section . Your SAT essay scores were measured on 3 dimensions: reading, analysis, and writing. Certain universities consider SAT exam essay scores vital for admission, despite it being optional. Until 2021, SAT essay score was also an optional section, but this year the essay section was discontinued. SAT essay score is not required anymore, but if you want to showcase your writing skills, you can consider taking an AP English course. Achieving 20 out of 24 SAT writing scores was accepted by most of the top universities . 

SAT Essay Score Range

The SAT Essay Score ranges from 2 to 8 according to their proficiency level. SAT Essay is evaluated on three criteria – Reading, Analysis, and Writing.

SAT Essay is scored by two different people in between 1 and 4. Their grades are then summed up to give you a three-part grade. The highest grade you can receive is 8 for three, and while the lowest possible score can be 2 for each of the three sections of the SAT Essay Paper.

SAT Essay Score Calculation

The SAT essay reading part of your grade assesses how well you read the essay that was provided. The SAT essay analysis part assesses how well you explained your point. The SAT essay writing part assesses how good your syntax and flow was.

The steps on how the SAT Essay is evaluated are given below:

• 2 distinct raters will examine your essay;
• 4 for Advanced level
• 3 for Proficient level
• 2 for Partial level
• 1 for Inadequate level
• After both of them completes the evaluation, the 2 scores for each of the dimensions are added.
• Candidates will receive 3 scores for the SAT Essay: One for each dimension which ranges from 2 to 8 points.

What is a Good SAT Essay Score?

For candidates wondering “What is a good essay score on SAT?”

Well, a good SAT Essay Score is scoring 19 out of 24. If a candidate manages to get above 22 out of 24, it is considered as an excellent SAT Score .

Average SAT Essay Score

There are different ways and parameters for calculating the average SAT Essay Scores. However, an average SAT Essay score is 14 out of a maximum of 24 points for all the three sections. Logically, Average SAT Score should be equal to 15 for all three sections. But apparently, it comes out to be 14. The Analysis dimension is the part of the SAT essay task that is most different from what students have had to do on other standardized test essays. The average SAT Essay score is 5 out of 8 for the Reading section, 3 out of 8 for the Analysis Section, and 5 out of 8 for Writing.

SAT Essay Score Percentile

The rough breakdown of the SAT essay score percentile based on the most recent College Board data is given in the table below:

In order to apply to the top foreign Universities of the English speaking nations, Candidates are required to obtain a decent SAT Essay Score. Universities like Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Stanford University require a decent SAT Essay score of 5-6 out of 8 in Reading, at least 4 out of 8 in Analysis, and 5-6 out of 8 in Writing.

To attain a good SAT Essay score, students need to practice more and more with the reading part. Try to understand what the author is trying to say and then take time to analyze and organize your thoughts and finally present it in a better way. This is one of the quick and easy ways to boost your SAT Essay Score.

ACT Essay Vs SAT Essay

ACT Vs SAT score conversion helps to determine the better performance of the candidate in these exams.

SAT Essay Sample

Here are SAT example essays for you:

Each section of SAT essay ranges on a scale of 2 to 8, and achieving a score of 6 in every section is considered a good score. Your SAT essay score will be based on your reading, analysis, and writing levels. From 2021 SAT essay scores are not a part of the exam. 

Ques: What is a good essay score on the SAT?

Ans: Each section of SAT essay ranges on a scale of 2 to 8, and achieving a score of 6 in every section is considered a good score. A score of 20+ on SAT essay was acceptable for the top-ranked universities worldwide.

Ques: Is the SAT essay hard?

Ans: Candidates doing regular practice with SAT sample papers and with a good knowledge of English reading and writing can easily achieve a good score on SAT essays.

Ques: Is 14 a good SAT essay score?

Ans: Achieving a SAT essay score of 14 out of 24 is an average score. On average, achieving a score of 20+ is considered a good SAT essay score.

Ques: Is 20 a good SAT essay score?

Ans: Achieving a score of 20 on SAT was considered a good score and was accepted by most of the top universities. The total sum of the three-part SAT essay score was 24.

Ques: Does SAT essay score matter?

Ans: SAT essay score does not matter on your score report. SAT essay was discontinued in 2021. There are other ways to show your writing skills by taking another English essay exam.

Ques: Is a 90% on an essay good?

Ans: Achieving a 90% score on SAT essay was comparatively hard, and you need to write your essay with a perfect intro and conclusion for a higher score.

Ques: Who grades SAT essays?

Ans: SAT essay scores are graded on a scale of 2 to 8 for each section. Your SAT essay score will be based on your reading, analysis, and writing levels.

Ques: Can I send my SAT score without the essay?

Ans: From 2021 SAT essay scores are not a part of the exam. You can send your total SAT score to the universities by visiting the College Board’s official website.

Ques: Is it easy to get 40% on an essay?

Ans: Getting 40% on SAT is relatively easy. You need to write a perfect essay with a good introduction and conclusion to achieve a good score. 

Ques: How to start a SAT essay?

Ans: A perfect introduction to SAT essay describes and paraphrases the argument, and you need to introduce the specific passage and argument that you will discuss in the essay. One thing you need to remember is that your conclusion should sum up all the points you made.

* The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

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How to Read SAT Scores

Last Updated: August 24, 2021

This article was co-authored by Arash Fayz . Arash Fayz is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LA Tutors 123, an academic consulting and private tutoring company based in Los Angeles, California. Arash has over 10 years of educational consulting experience, managing the tutoring of students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to score higher on standardized tests and gain admission to their target schools. He has a BA in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. This article has been viewed 14,205 times.

The latest version of the SAT goes back to the classic scoring system of two sections worth 200 to 800 points each, for a total score of between 400 and 1600. This version does away with the old required writing test and score system with an upper limit of 2400. On the other hand, score reports are now broken down into numerous types of scores, subscores, and percentiles. Weeding through those doesn't have to be difficult, as long as you know exactly what each score represents. Start by looking at your overall and section scores to get the big picture. Then, use the subscores to help you interpret the report and find your strengths as well as areas for improvement.

Finding Your Basic Scores

• If you took a previous version of the SAT, it might have had a required essay that was also factored into your total score. This is no longer the case.

Analyzing Score Details

• The individual test scores help you get a more specific idea of how you did on various parts of the SAT.

• Command of Evidence
• Words in Context
• Expression of Ideas
• Standard English Conventions
• Heart of Algebra
• Problem Solving and Data Analysis
• Passport to Advanced Math

• These scores can give you a sense of how well you might do, potentially, in college courses in History, Science, or related subjects.

Reviewing Optional Test and Repeat Test Scores

Interpreting Your Scores

• You score report will list percentiles for your total scores and section scores.
• For example, if you scored in the 75th percentile for your total score, this means that your score was better than 75 percent of other test takers’.

• The benchmarks are way of indicating whether or not you have a 75 percent or higher chance of earning a “C” or higher in a first-year college course that would use these subject area skills, according to the College Board’s standards.

• Talk to your school’s guidance or college counselor if you want some advice on improving your academic skills and/or test scores based on the cross test scores.

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• ↑ https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/understanding-sat-scores.pdf

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How to Interpret Your SAT Scores

Understanding how to read your score report is an essential component of the college admissions process. The information provided on your report will allow you to gauge your competitiveness and help you prep for the SAT.

[ RELATED: What’s a good SAT score? ]

SAT score by numbers

Your Evidence Based Reading & Writing score is calculated based on your performance on the Reading and Writing & Language tests, which are the first 2 tests on the SAT. Your Math score is calculated off your performance on the calculator and non-calculator portions of the Math section, which comprise the second half of the SAT.

In addition to your section scores, you’ll also receive a score for each of these tests—Reading, Writing & Language, and Math—on a scale from 10 – 40. If you take the optional SAT essay, you’ll receive 3 separate scores—each out of 8 points—for reading, analysis, and writing, which do not impact your overall SAT score out of 1600.

Understanding how you rank

Cross-test and subscores.

You’ll receive 2 cross-test scores for Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science, each on a scale of 10 – 40. Cross-test scores describe how well you performed on certain questions across the entire SAT. Your History/Social Studies score, for example, will be drawn from relevant questions in from History/Social Studies passages in both Reading and Writing & Language, as well as in certain questions on the Math test that require you to analyze historical or socio-cultural information.

Finally, your score report provides 7 subscores that break down your performance within each test. These scores range from 1 – 15.

The SAT will give you 4 subscores on the Reading and Writing & Language sections. These include Command of Evidence and Words in Context questions. Command of Evidence subscores are derived from your performance on questions that ask you to cite evidence for an answer choice. The Command of Evidence subscore also includes infographic questions and questions that ask you to identify how an author used evidence or asked you to revise a passage to clarify the author’s main idea.

The Words in Context subscore assesses vocab-in-context questions on the Reading Test as well as word-choice questions on the Writing & Language test. The Writing & Language test also includes 2 additional subscores: Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions.

What are SAT test scores vs cross-test scores?

How will these scores affect college admissions, if at all, what your sat score tells you.

Colleges and universities publish these ranges indicating what percentage of their entering class had score ranges above and below the 25 – 75 range. This means that 50% of their admitted freshmen had scores that fell between those 2 numbers, 25% of their admitted freshmen scored above the top number, and 25% of them scored below the bottom number.

So how do your SAT scores measure up? Just because your score is in the 25 – 75 range doesn’t mean you have a 50/50 shot at being admitted. On the other hand, SAT scores near the 75% and above range will give you confidence that you are a competitive applicant at that institution.

Score Reminder

A good SAT score is one that helps you achieve your admission and scholarship goals.

SAT/ACT Score Conversion Calculator

Quickly convert your SAT score to an ACT score using our free calculator.

Should I take the SAT over again?

Acknowledge the strengths that led to your test score.

Regardless of the composite score you received, there are parts of the exam in which you performed at or above average. Recognize and mark those as your strong points. To stay on top of your progress, you need to keep practicing those areas of strength.

Examine where you could have done better

Unless you got a perfect score, there were undoubtedly certain sections you struggled with more than others. Play close attention to those parts, write them down, and note why you got those questions wrong; then, let these reasons why be your guiding principles when you go back to study again. Don’t be concerned with just getting the right answer. Instead, fight to understand why you got it wrong so that you will not make the same mistake twice.

If you‘re not happy with your score, there’s still hope

An average or lower score does not mean that you should give up. Instead, it should motivate to prove your original score wrong. This time, study harder and use the knowledge you gained from the first exam to do even better on the second. If it’s too late to take it again, find alternative ways to showcase your abilities. Improving your GPA, becoming more involved in school, and volunteering are all great ways to show potential schools that you are a great student and that a test score does not define you. You should also consider searching for schools that match your score range.

If you are happy with your score, there’s still room to improve

If you got a good score on your first go-around, that’s an amazing feeling. However, do not let a good score make you complacent and underestimate your full potential. Always aim to improve—just a small increase in your percentile could help you get into your dream school. Remain focused in school and continue to push yourself.

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How Are Digital SAT Scores Calculated?

Dec 1, 2023 | Articles , Financial Aid & Scholarships , SAT , Standardized Tests

You’ve taken the new Digital SAT and received your scores. But how are these scores calculated? You can compare your score to the national average by knowing how SAT scores are calculated.

Total SAT Score

Total SAT scores range from 400 to 1600. Your total score is the sum of your section scores. In other words, y our SAT score is a total score calculated on two section scores: Reading & Writing and Math. (The SAT Essay score, used by some high schools, is calculated separately.)

Section SAT Scores

Scores for the Reading & Writing, and Math sections each range from 200 to 800. Your raw score—the number of questions you answered correctly—is converted to the section score.

SAT calculates scores based on your correct answers. Consequently, there is no penalty for incorrect answers. So NEVER leave any questions blank.

Benchmark Indicators

You gain perspective on your future success in college by looking at the benchmark icon. First of all, take note of an exclamation point in the benchmark area. This shows that you are below the benchmark (480 for Reading & Writing and 530 for Math). As a result, you will want to focus on SAT prep if you intend to retake the test.

Percent Indicators

Percentiles show the percentage of students who scored equal to or below your score. These scores are helpful if you want to compare your score to other SAT takers. SAT percentile scores are a number between 1 and 99. In other words, this score represents the percentage of students whose scores are equal to or below yours. For example, if your Math percentile is 68, 68% of test-takers have Math scores equal to or below yours.

2023 Average SAT Scores

After all SAT 2023 scores were calculated, the average score was 1028. Comparatively, the 2022 average SAT score was 1060. You can check out how you stand with other SAT scores at this College Board 2023 Annual Report.

Improving your SAT Score

Practice and preparation are two of the most significant ways to improve your SAT score. Above all, find SAT prep that’s fun and engaging and gives you strategies to help you take the test. Not all test prep is created equal, so make sure you do your research, read reviews, and look past flashy guarantees. 

OnToCollege offers a practical video course that gives you the strategies you need and provides practice tests and detailed solution videos to help you learn from your mistakes.

In addition, make sure you use actual SAT practice tests to learn the test format as you study. Then, take the national SAT multiple times. We recommend you take it four times: twice your junior year and twice your senior year.

Want to get started? Sign up for the OnToCollege SAT free trial to start your test prep at no cost! 

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Understanding the SAT Score Range for Academic Success

Do you often find yourself wondering, “What exactly is my SAT score range, and what does it mean?” If so, you’re not alone.

The SAT score range, a jumble of numbers and percentiles, often leaves aspiring college applicants scratching their heads. But fear not, for this blog post is here to shed light on this often misunderstood concept of the SAT score range and help you understand what your various scores mean on the report.

Table of Contents

What is the Total SAT Score Range?

When you receive your SAT score report, your eyes are immediately drawn to the big number at the top—your total score. This number, ranging from 400 to 1600, represents your combined performance in the Evidence-Based Reading, and Writing, and Math sections. But wait, there’s more to your score than meets the eye.

Just below your total score, you’ll find a smaller number in parentheses, known as your score range. This score range indicates the possible scores you might have gotten if you had taken the SAT multiple times under identical conditions. This variability is common and doesn’t diminish your overall achievement. It’s like a little secret window into your academic consistency.

Why is the score range important? Well, it reflects the natural variation in performance that even the best test-takers experience. Colleges understand this, and some even consider your score range along with your total score when evaluating your application. They appreciate this holistic approach, allowing your true potential to shine through.

What Do You Mean by Section Score Range in the SAT?

Each section of the SAT exam , Reading and Writing and Math, is scored on a scale of 200 to 800 points.

In the paper-based version, the Reading and Writing score combines the scores for the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test.

The Math score is based on the Math Test, which includes both calculator-allowed and calculator-free sections.

What is the Additional Score Range on the SAT?

Test scores.

Your SAT scores for Reading, Writing, Language, and Math fall within a range of 10 to 40 points.

This part of your score report compares your performance to benchmarks for college readiness, indicating whether you’re on track, almost on track, or need improvement. The score report also shows you the number of questions you answered correctly and incorrectly.

Cross-Test Scores

The cross-test score range is also between 10 and 40. These scores reflect your performance on selected questions across the three tests, highlighting your strengths in the following areas:

• Analysis in History/Social Studies
• Analysis in Science

The SAT also provides subscores, which range from 1 to 15. These subscores offer feedback on your performance in specific skill areas.

These skill areas include:

• Command of Evidence
• Words in Context
• Expression of Ideas
• Standard English Conventions
• Heart of Algebra
• Problem Solving and Data Analysis
• Passport to Advanced Math

SAT Essay Scores

You must be aware that the SAT Essay is only available in states where it’s required as part of SAT School Day administrations since early 2021. However, you must know the score range. It is scored on a scale of 2 to 8 in three categories:

• Writing. 

Note: These scores are not added together or combined with any other SAT scores.

Your online scores will show the prompt that you responded to and your essay. This allows you to see how you did on each of the three scoring dimensions.

Suggested: When Do SAT Scores Come Out

What Do You Mean by a Student’s Score on the SAT?

When it comes to evaluating student performance, relying solely on pinpoint scores can be misleading. Instead, score ranges offer a more comprehensive and realistic representation of a student’s abilities. These ranges are derived from the standard error of measurement, a statistical measure that quantifies the inherent variability in test scores. In simpler terms, score ranges indicate how much a student’s score might fluctuate if they took the same test multiple times under identical conditions.

For the SAT, the standard error of measurement varies depending on the type of score:

• Total Score: ±40 points
• Section Score (Math or Evidence-Based Reading and Writing): ±30 points
• Test Score, Subscore, or Cross-Test Score (for paper-based SAT only): ±2 points

In simpler terms, if a student scores 500 on the Math section, their true score could be anywhere between 470 and 530. This variability doesn’t mean the test is inaccurate; it simply reflects the fact that students’ performance can fluctuate due to factors like test anxiety or varying levels of preparation.

To get a better grasp of the SAT score range, we’ve provided a sample SAT score report for your reference. Take a look at the sample report to understand what the SAT score range encompasses.

An Example of an SAT Score Report

Source: College Board

As you can see, the SAT score range is not just a single number. It’s a band of scores that reflects the variability in your performance on the test.

Understanding score ranges provides a more holistic perspective on student performance, moving away from rigid numerical representations and embracing the inherent variability of human performance. By acknowledging this variability, colleges can make more informed decisions about student placement, academic interventions, and college admissions.

Suggested: What is a Good SAT Score?

From the Desk of Yocket

The SAT score range is a broad spectrum that encompasses a wide range of academic abilities. The SAT score range is a valuable tool for understanding your performance on the SAT and for making strategic decisions about college admissions. By using the SAT score range effectively, you can increase your chances of getting into the colleges you are most interested in attending.

While there is no single “good” or “bad” SAT score, the range can provide valuable insights into a student’s preparedness for college-level coursework.

Experienced college admissions counselors and educators emphasize the importance of considering the SAT score range in conjunction with other factors, such as GPA, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and personal essays. They stress that a high SAT score does not guarantee admission, nor does a lower score preclude acceptance.

One expert, a former admissions director at a selective university, highlights the role of the SAT score range in context. “The SAT score range serves as a benchmark for colleges to evaluate applicants with a similar academic background,” they explain. “A higher score within the range indicates stronger academic performance and may enhance an applicant’s profile.”

Another expert, a renowned college admissions consultant, emphasizes the importance of understanding the SAT score range for specific colleges. “Each college has its own average SAT score range, which reflects the academic profile of its admitted students,” they advise. “By researching the SAT score range of their target colleges, students can assess their competitiveness and make informed decisions about their applications.”

According to experts, it’s advised for students to target scores within the middle 50% range of their desired colleges to improve admission prospects. Yocket specialists also advise students to assess their complete academic profile and involvement in extracurricular activities, as these elements significantly impact holistic admissions decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what is the sat percentile.

An SAT percentile is a measure of how well you did on the SAT compared to other students who took the test. It tells you what percentage of students scored lower than you on the test. For example, if you score in the 90th percentile, this means that you scored higher than 90% of all students who took the SAT.

2. What is the average SAT score?

According to a report from the College Board , the average SAT score for the high school class of 2022 in the United States was 1050, down by 10 points from the class of 2021. This means that half of all students who take the SAT score 1051 or higher, and the other half score 1050 or lower.

3. What are the highest and lowest SAT score ranges?

The highest possible SAT score is 1600, and the lowest possible SAT score is 400.

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How Scores Are Calculated

View your scores online..

As part of the shift to digital, the SAT is now substantially shorter, lasting 2 hours and 14 minutes instead of 3 hours, with more time, on average, per question. The digital SAT is shorter while still assessing the same core reading, writing and math skills as the former paper and pencil SAT because it uses adaptive testing.

Adaptive Testing

The SAT and PSAT-related assessments use a multistage adaptive design. Each test section—1) Reading and Writing and 2) Math—is administered in two stages. Each stage consists of a module of test questions comprising half of the section's questions (20–25 operational questions and two pretest questions, which don't count for scoring, per module).

Students have half of the section time (32 minutes per module for Reading and Writing, 35 minutes per module for Math) to work through questions in the first module. During that time, they may preview upcoming questions, go back to questions, and change answers within the first module before time runs out.

The first module consists of questions with varying difficulty levels. Once time for the first module ends, the second module begins. The questions students are given in the second module are of mixed difficulty level, tailored to the student depending on how they performed on the questions in the first module, and their section score is based on how they did on all of the questions in both modules. As a result, students should try their best on every single question.

A range of section scores are possible no matter which second module a student sees. Students won't be advantaged just for seeing a higher difficulty set of questions in the second module, or disadvantaged just for seeing a lower difficulty set of questions in the second module. Students can also meet state and College Board benchmarks regardless of which second module they're routed to.

The digital SAT's multistage adaptive test design and use of Item Response Theory (IRT) methodology allow for precise measurement of students' knowledge and skills with fewer questions in less time than possible with traditional paper and pencil tests. IRT is used by many national assessments, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) suite from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), and many state assessments.

In the scoring model used for the digital SAT Suite, the scores students receive are a product of several factors, characteristics of the questions they answered right or wrong (e.g., the questions' difficulty levels), and the probability that the pattern of answers suggests they were guessing. One important implication of this method is that two students who answer the same number of questions correctly in a test section may earn differing section scores based on the characteristics, including difficulty level, of the particular questions they answered correctly.

Administrations of each digital SAT Suite assessment sample from the same content domains across the same range of skill/knowledge elements, meaning all students have an equitable opportunity to demonstrate their strengths. For most students who are trying their best on every question, it's better to guess than leave a question blank, especially if a student can eliminate one or two answer options before guessing.

Two pretest questions are also included in each module. The inclusion of these questions allows College Board to collect performance data on them and evaluate their suitability for possible use in future tests. Student responses to these pretest questions don't affect their scores.

Comparing Digital and Paper Test Scores

While the digital SAT Suite employs a different scoring methodology from paper testing, what the suite measures hasn't changed. The digital tests continue to measure the reading, writing, and math knowledge and skills that students are learning in high school and that matter most for college and career readiness. The digital SAT is still scored on a 400–1600 scale, and educators and students can continue to use digital SAT Suite scores to monitor growth over time.

Prior to the launch of the digital SAT in March 2023, two concordance studies established that scores from the digital SAT are comparable to scores from the paper and pencil SAT and can be used in the similar manner for college admissions and other intended purposes. For example, a score of 1050 on the digital SAT would correspond to and carry the same meaning as a score of 1050 on the paper and pencil SAT.

Additionally, the SAT College and Career Readiness benchmarks of 480 for the Reading and Writing section and 530 for the Math section are the same with the shift to digital testing. As we gather actual college performance data for students who have taken the digital SAT Suite tests, we'll empirically reexamine all benchmarks to validate and update them as needed.

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What Is A Good SAT Essay Score?

SAT Writing

SAT Essay scoring can be tricky to figure out. Maybe you've already created target goals for your SAT score, following our guide , so you at least have that score goal set.

But where does your essay score fit into all this? What is a good SAT essay score? This article will answer those questions.

Note : The information in this article is for the old (pre-March-2016) SAT essay, which was scored out of 12 and part of the Writing section. Scores for the March 2016 SAT were only released May 10th, 2016, which means that data on percentiles and averages aren't going to be available for a while yet. We'll update this article as soon as the information comes out.

feature image credit: Doing Great by Eli Christman , used under CC BY 2.0 /Cropped from original.

UPDATE: SAT Essay No Longer Offered

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In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during SAT School Day Testing.

While most colleges had already made SAT Essay scores optional, this move by the College Board means no colleges now require the SAT Essay. It will also likely lead to additional college application changes such not looking at essay scores at all for the SAT or ACT, as well as potentially requiring additional writing samples for placement.

What does the end of the SAT Essay mean for your college applications? Check out our article on the College Board's SAT Essay decision for everything you need to know.

What Is the SAT Essay Out Of?

Before you can know what a good SAT essay score is, you need to know how many points you can get total on the essay. So what's the SAT essay out of?

Currently, the SAT essay is scored on a scale of 1 to 6 by two graders, for a total essay score out of 12 . Your essay is scored holistically, which means you don’t get bumped down to a certain essay grade if you make, for instance, a certain number of comma errors. Instead, SAT essay scorers use the SAT essay rubric to grade your essay as a whole.

Note: SAT essay scoring will change beginning with the March 2016 SAT. For more information on that change, read our other articles on the new SAT essay prompts and the new SAT essay .

What Is a Good SAT Essay Score?

As with most things on the SAT, a good essay score depends on what your goals are. These goals should be concrete and determined by the colleges you’re applying to - after all, if your reach schools have an average essay score of 9, then there's no need to burn yourself out trying to get that elusive 12.

To some extent, your essay score goal will also be influenced by your performance on the multiple choice section of SAT Writing. If you do better on multiple-choice questions, you may be able to cut yourself some slack in the essay department.

But how do figure out what your SAT Writing (and SAT essay) goals should be? Use our three-step process, explained below.

Step 1: Know Your Target SAT Writing Score

If you’ve read our free ebook on calculating your target SAT score , you may already have figured out your target SAT Writing score. If not, it's time to calculate it! I'll walk through the process using the example of Virginia Commonwealth University.

First , download this worksheet . It's designed for calculating your target SAT score out of 2400, so you'll have to modify it a little bit. Fill in the schools you want to apply to in the leftmost column. Here's what the worksheet will look like for Virginia Commonwealth University:

Next , google "[name of school] average SAT writing" to get the middle 50% of all SAT Writing scores. For instance, if you're interested in Virginia Commonwealth University, you'd do the following search:

There'll usually be a collegeapps.about.com link that has this information. Sometimes (as you can see above) the college website will also pop up, so you can use that to double-check your numbers. You're looking for the 25th and 75th percentile scores on the SAT Writing section .

A quick refresher on what "percentile scores" mean : 25th percentile means that 25% of the students attending have a score at or below that number (below average). The 75th percentile means that 75% of students have a score at or below that number (above average). In essence, the 25th/75th percentile score range covers the middle 50% of all students admitted to Virginia Commonwealth University.

If the sites don’t list a specific SAT Writing score range, you can divide the top and bottom of the overall SAT score range by 3 to get a general idea of what your Writing score needs to be. In this case, there is information about the SAT Writing score range, so we can fill that in on the worksheet:

Do the same for all of the schools you want to apply to. Include dream or “reach” schools, but don’t include “safety schools” (schools you think you have at least a 90% chance of getting into).

Once you've filled in the information for all of the schools you want to apply to, average the 25th percentile and 75th percentile columns, then choose a target SAT Writing score with that information.

As it says on the worksheet, we recommend that you take the 75th percentile score as your target SAT Writing score. It'll give you a very strong chance of getting into the schools you’ve listed. If you’re applying to humanities programs, you may even want to consider a higher score target for SAT Writing.

Step 2: Find an Official SAT Writing Score Chart

The next step is to take a look at an SAT Writing score chart to find out the range of essay scores that will get you your target SAT Writing score. The chart will differ in precise score differences from test to test, but it can at least give you a broad idea of the range.

Let's say that your target SAT Writing score is 576 (rounded up to 580). I've highlighted this in green in the following SAT Writing score chart (from an official SAT practice test):

As you can see in the chart above, there are theoretically over ten ways to get a 580 on SAT Writing, with anywhere from a 25-46 multiple-choice raw score and a 0-12 essay score.

But is it really realistic to expect to score a 12 on the SAT essay if your multiple-choice raw score is only a 25? Probably not. In 2015, the average SAT Writing score was a 484, and the average SAT essay score was a 7 (data from the CollegeBoard ; for more on this, read our upcoming article on average SAT Writing scores).

Based on this information (and on an official practice SAT Writing score chart), we've created a table of realistic essay scores you can expect to achieve if you're scoring in a certain range:

So while you can get a 580 on SAT Writing with an essay score from 0-12, you're more likely to do so if you can score a 7 or above on the essay.

Step Three: Take a Timed SAT Writing Section and Score It

The final step is to see what your multiple choice score is now so that you know how much prep time you'll have to put in. To do this, you'll need to take a timed SAT Writing section and calculate your multiple-choice raw score . The best way to get a realistic idea of what your raw multiple-choice Writing score is would be to take a full-length practice test (because it’ll give you an idea of how tired you get from the other sections and how you deal with switching back and forth). If you don't have the time to do this, just take the Writing sections from an official SAT practice test, adhering to the time limits.

How do you calculate your multiple-choice raw Writing score? Use the following equation:

Your raw score = (# of questions you got right - # of questions you got wrong x 0.25)

For example, if you answered 34 (out of49) questions right, skipped 7, and got 8 questions wrong, your raw score would be:

34 – (8 x .25) = 34 – 2 = 32

With a raw score of 32, you can get anything from a 450 to a 630 on SAT Writing, depending on your essay score. If you stay at the same multiple-choice raw score, you'll need an essay score of 9 or above to make your target Writing score of 580. This is a tough essay score to get for anyone, especially considering the average essay score for 2015 was a 7.

As you increase your multiple-choice raw score, the essay score needed to get your target score will drop . To use the example from before, if you're aiming for an SAT Writing score of 580, a realistic essay score would be a 7; according to the SAT Writing score chart above, this means you'll need to increase your raw multiple-choice score to a 37 (a far more manageable goal for most students than raising their essay scores to a 9).

Actions To Take

Figure out your target SAT Writing score , using the worksheet above.

Use an SAT Writing scoring scale to figure out the essay grade you’ll need to shoot for to make your target SAT Writing score.

Figure out how you’re doing on the Writing multiple choice questions and how much you need to improve (both on the multiple-choice questions and on the essay) to meet your SAT Writing score goal.

What’s Next?

Get the inside scoop on what really goes on behind the scenes with our strategies based on interviews with real essay graders .

Can you write a high-scoring SAT essay in less than a page? Discover how essay length affects your score in this article .

Still confused about how the SAT essay is scored? Try our article that explains the official SAT essay scoring policy and what strategies you should use to take advantage of it.

Curious about how well everyone does on the SAT essay? Read our article to find out what’s an average SAT essay score .

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Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.

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