Receiving Your Score
You can usually expect to find your SAT scores online 2-3
weeks after your Test Day. The College Board offers a full
listing of
score availability dates.
You can also log on to the College Board
site to find:
- Your raw score and 200-800 point scaled score for the Math,
Critical Reading, and Writing sections.
- Your 0-12 essay sub-score.
- Information about your responses including questions that
you answered right, answered wrong, or omitted.
- Your estimated percentile rank for college-bound seniors
based on the test you took. (Note: Your percentile rank will
help you understand how you scored in comparison to other test
takers.)
- A printable copy of your essay.
This information will also be sent to your home about 4-6
weeks after your Test Day so that you have an official score
report.
You can also use the College Board site and your official
score report to confirm the colleges to which you sent your
scores.
Understanding your Score
One of the most common questions we get from students and
parents is: "What does this score mean?"
Since March 2005, the SAT has been graded on a 2400-point
scale, with the Math, Critical Reading, and Writing sections all
being worth 800 points each. It is important to remember that the
SAT returns scores on a bell-curve. This means that the median
score on each section will always be close to 500 (the midpoint
between 200 and 800), with a decreasing frequency of scores down
to 200 and up to 800.
Your score report also includes percentile rankings. These let
you compare your performance against students across the country.
For instance, if you ranked in the 90th percentile on the Math
section, that means you did better than 89 percent of other
students, while 10 percent fared better than you.
The Writing Section
Keep in mind that not all schools use the Writing section in
the same way. Some elite schools that have traditionally required
the SAT Writing Subject Test are using the SAT Writing section as
a formal piece of the admissions process.
Other schools have indicated that they will look at Writing
section scores, but that they will not give them much, if any,
consideration. These schools are primarily trying to get an
understanding of the scores in conjunction with applications.
A third group of schools is still on the fence and is waiting
for more information to become available before making a
decision.
As you refine your target school list based on your scores,
you may want to ask schools how they will be using your Writing
score.
Testing Again
If you got your dream score, congratulations! You can now get
to work on your SAT Subject Tests, AP exams, and
applications.
If you are not happy with your score, don't despair. Keep in
mind that most students take the SAT more than once, and some
even take it three times! Use the information in your score
report to help you understand your strengths and weaknesses and
to hone your preparation for your next SAT.