Calculate your SAT score instantly from correct answers. Supports Digital SAT 2024 format.
The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Understanding how your SAT score is calculated is crucial for college planning and application preparation. Our SAT Score Calculator helps you estimate your total score based on the number of correct answers in each section.
The SAT is a standardized test administered by the College Board, designed to assess a student's readiness for college. The test measures knowledge in reading, writing, and mathematics. Starting in 2024, the College Board introduced the Digital SAT, which represents a significant shift from the traditional paper-based format.
The Digital SAT is shorter, adaptive, and taken on a computer or tablet. It consists of two main sections: Reading and Writing (combined into one section) and Math. Each section is divided into two modules, with the difficulty of the second module adapting based on your performance in the first.
The SAT scoring system is designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of your academic abilities:
SAT scoring follows a two-step process:
Your raw score is simply the number of questions you answered correctly. There's no penalty for incorrect answers, so it's always better to guess than to leave a question blank.
The College Board converts your raw score to a scaled score (200-800 for each section) using a conversion table. This process, called "equating," ensures that scores from different test dates are comparable. The conversion accounts for slight variations in difficulty between test versions.
"Good" is relative and depends on your college goals. Here's a general breakdown:
| Score Range | Percentile | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1600 | 99th+ | Outstanding (Ivy League competitive) |
| 1400-1490 | 94th-99th | Excellent (Top tier universities) |
| 1300-1390 | 87th-94th | Very Good (Competitive schools) |
| 1200-1290 | 75th-87th | Good (Many state universities) |
| 1000-1190 | 45th-75th | Average |
| Below 1000 | Below 45th | Below Average |
The average SAT score is approximately 1050 out of 1600. For context, scoring above 1400 places you in the top 5-7% of all test-takers, while a score of 1500 or above puts you in the top 1%.
The College Board transitioned to the Digital SAT in 2024, bringing significant changes:
Achieving a high SAT score requires strategic preparation:
Use official College Board practice tests available on their website. These accurately reflect the actual test format and difficulty. Aim to complete at least 4-6 full-length practice tests before your test date.
Analyze your practice test results to identify question types you struggle with. Spend extra time reviewing those topics. Our calculator can help you track which modules need more attention.
The Digital SAT is adaptive, so your performance on the first module affects the second. Practice pacing yourself to ensure you have time to answer all questions thoughtfully without rushing.
Since calculators are allowed for all math questions on the Digital SAT, familiarize yourself with the built-in graphing calculator (Desmos). Knowing when and how to use it efficiently can save valuable time.
There's no penalty for wrong answers, so never leave a question blank. Even if you're unsure, make an educated guess. Eliminate obviously wrong answers first to improve your odds.
Our SAT Score Calculator is designed for the Digital SAT format. Follow these steps:
Note: This calculator provides estimates based on typical scoring curves. Actual SAT scores may vary slightly due to the College Board's equating process, which adjusts for test difficulty variations.
A perfect SAT score is 1600. This consists of 800 points in the Reading and Writing section and 800 points in the Math section. Achieving a perfect score requires answering every question correctly across all four modules. Only about 0.3% of test-takers achieve a perfect score each year, making it extremely rare and highly competitive.
The Digital SAT uses adaptive testing, meaning the difficulty of Module 2 in each section adjusts based on your performance in Module 1. If you do well on Module 1, you'll receive a harder Module 2 with higher scoring potential. Despite this adaptive mechanism, the final score range remains 400-1600, just like the paper SAT. The scoring conversion process accounts for module difficulty to ensure fairness.
No, there is no penalty for wrong answers on the SAT. You receive one point for each correct answer and zero points for incorrect or omitted answers. This means you should always guess if you're unsure, as there's no downside. Try to eliminate obviously wrong choices first to improve your chances of guessing correctly.
For the Digital SAT, scores are typically available within a few days of taking the test – much faster than the legacy paper SAT, which took 2-3 weeks. You'll receive an email notification when your scores are ready to view in your College Board account. Multiple-choice scores come first, followed by essay scores if you took the optional essay (note: the essay was discontinued in 2021).
Yes, many colleges accept SAT superscoring, which means they'll take your highest section scores from multiple test dates and combine them for your best possible total score. For example, if you scored 700 in Reading/Writing and 650 in Math on one test, then 650 in Reading/Writing and 750 in Math on another, your superscore would be 1450 (700+750). Check with individual colleges about their superscoring policies.
Ivy League schools typically admit students with SAT scores in the 1470-1580 range (middle 50%). For the most competitive schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, the average admitted student usually scores above 1500. However, SAT scores are just one factor in admissions – extracurriculars, essays, grades, and recommendations also matter significantly. Many Ivy League schools are now test-optional.
Most students take the SAT 2-3 times. Research shows that scores often improve on the second attempt as students become familiar with the test format. Taking it more than three times is generally not recommended unless you have a specific reason (such as illness affecting a previous test). Many colleges superscore, so multiple attempts can help you achieve your best combined score.
The SAT and ACT are both standardized college admissions tests, but they use different scoring systems. The SAT is scored out of 1600 (combining two 800-point sections), while the ACT is scored out of 36 (averaging four subject scores). A 1400 SAT is roughly equivalent to a 31 ACT, and a 1500 SAT is comparable to a 34 ACT. Most colleges accept either test equally.
Our SAT Score Calculator provides estimates based on typical College Board scoring curves and conversion tables. While it offers a good approximation of your score, actual scores may vary by 10-30 points due to the equating process the College Board uses to account for difficulty variations between test forms. For the most accurate prediction, use official College Board practice tests and score them with official scoring tables.
Most students take their first SAT in the spring of junior year (March-May) and may retake it in the fall of senior year (August-November) if needed. This timing allows you to focus on studying during junior year while leaving room for improvement before college application deadlines. Taking the SAT in spring of junior year also gives you summer to prepare for a retake if necessary.