Confusion About SAT Scoring

Test Preparation
1

I thought that in general, the SAT is scored by first taking your raw total. Then they subtract 1/4 of the total number of questions you answered incorrectly. That final number gets turned into your scaled score.

If this is the case, I am confused about how I took the December 2014 SAT and got a 770 in Math. My score report said that on the Math section, I answered every single question and got only one wrong. If they actually follow the outline I mentioned above, wouldn’t that mean I had .25 points less than the raw max, which would just then get rounded back up and converted to 800?

On a related note, could anyone please give me an idea of what I might get on a test I took today (June 6, 2015)? It was the SAT II Math Level 2. I answered 44 out of 50 questions, and I know for sure that I got one wrong. Assuming I got the other 43 correct, is there a chance I can get an 800?

Thank you!

2

No–they subtract 1.25 (1 for not getting it right and .25 for getting it wrong–if you skip they subtract 1).

The raw score doesn’t get rounded to make your scaled score (200-800 scale); it goes through a curve first. Total for a perfect M raw score is 54. On virtually every M test I’ve ever seen, anything below 54 is under 800, and it’s very common for a 53 raw score (54 - 1.25 = 52.75, rounded up is 53) to curve to 770.

3

Thank you.

Does anyone have any thoughts about whether I might be able to get an 800 on that SAT 2 Math Level 2? I’d have to be extremely lucky, wouldn’t I?

4

No, just learn to use your calculator well. 800 is very doable.