SAT Score Calculator

SAT Score Charts

SAT scores are complicated. Unlike traditional tests, they aren't graded on a 100 point scale, and the raw scores must go through several calculations before a quantitative SAT score is reached. Raw SAT scores are turned into final scores by adding a single point for each correct answer, subtracting 1/4 point for each wrong answer, and ignoring unanswered questions. Those raw scores are distributed according to a specific SAT scale and reported to the student on a 600-2400 point scale. The College Board calls this whole process "equating," and they're fairly secretive about the formula that goes into the point scaling.

Thankfully, SAT score calculators exist to help you understand how your final point total is calculated. For students who are hung up on their final SAT point total, rather than studying to the best of their ability, these SAT score charts are invaluable tools when it comes to dealing with SAT anxiety.

Online SAT Score Calculators

You can find score calculators for the SAT online from a few different sources. Any SAT or test prep website worth your time will have some kind of SAT score calculator or SAT score chart to help you determine your eventual SAT score based on your number of correct answers, incorrect answers, and skipped questions.

The SAT test in 2010 was made up of 170 questions and a student-written essay. 67 of those questions are from the Critical Reading section, 54 are from the Mathematics section, and the remaining 49 are from the Writing section. Students have the opportunity to earn an additional 12 points from their essay, for a grand total of 182 possible points from all three sections combined. If a student earns all 182 possible points, they're guaranteed to earn a perfect 2400 SAT score, but that doesn't mean that we can simply say that each of those 182 possible points is valued at 13.18 points on the SAT scale. The wrinkle in the SAT scoring system happens because the SAT doesn't take points away for skipped questions, and only removes 1/4 of a point for every wrong answer.

Using any online SAT score calculator, you can see that getting just one answer wrong in the Mathematics section lowers your grade from a perfect 800 to a 775. One wrong answer on that section is worth a loss of 25 SAT score points. Instead of getting the answer wrong, had that student simply not answered the question, the score would come out at 780, slightly better than the 775 the student would get for a wrong answer. Generally speaking, skipping a question you're unsure of will save you 5 SAT cumulative points over guessing an incorrect answer.

Different portions of the SAT test reward skipping questions differently. On the larger Critical Reading section, skipping an answer will only give you a single cumulative point advantage over guessing a wrong answer, and since you have a 25% chance of guessing the answer correctly on multiple choice questions, guessing may make more mathematical sense.

SAT Score Chart

While you're looking at SAT score calculators online, it makes sense to check out the average SAT score chart for the university you're most interested in attending. Student's average SAT scores at the college of your dreams is not a minimum or a requirement for being accepted into that college--it's more like a guide for you to strive for. Remember that as many students at that college scored above that average as scored below it.

Here's a quick look at some popular universities and their average SAT scores. These numbers are based on 2009 SAT scores.

Harvard 2070 - 2350
Stanford 2010 - 2300
Yale 2100 - 2370
Princeton 2090 - 2360
MIT 2030 - 2320
Columbia 2050 - 2320
Cornell 1935 - 2250
Vanderbilt 2010 - 2270
UC-Berkeley 1800 - 2170
Texas 1650 - 2000

If you've got a handful of schools in mind, look at their average SAT score charts and set your sights within that average range. Many top-tier schools focus on a holistic approach to admissions, taking factors like class rank and extra-curricular activities into account as much as standardized test scores, so if you score a 2000 on the SAT and still hope to get into Harvard, there's hope if the rest of your college application is solid.

It is easy for students to get caught up in numbers and SAT scores when preparing for a tough test like the SAT or ACT exam. The key to a good college application is to look at the big picture and not focus too much on any one individual part of your app. Take the SAT test again if you're unsatisfied with your first score, and polish up the rest of your application.