<p>No, it's not what you think it is.</p>
<p>Why are all SAT scaled scores multiples of 10? For AP exams, the scale is 1-5. For the ACT, the scale is 1-36. For the PSAT, the scale is 20-80. In each case, the precision is 1 point. For the SAT, however, scores range from 200-800 (per section / SAT II subject) and are only precise to 10 point increments.</p>
<p>Why?</p>
<p>Additionally, even if the precision were to the single point, why is the range 200-800, instead of 0-600?</p>
<p>To make difference in the scores between the PSAT and SAT; Because 200 sounds less cruel than 0. That’s what I think although I don’t think there was specific and important purpose in it.</p>
<p>In reality, the PSAT is scored by multiples of 10. It’s designed to mirror real SAT scoring, but doesn’t use the 2400 as the perfect score (probably to differentiate between PSAT and SAT). Another way of thinking about it is that the SAT is scored like the PSAT, and then a 0 is tacked on to all the scores.</p>