The Redesigned SAT Scoring System

The Redesigned SAT Scoring System    In March of 2016, the College Board administered the first Redesigned SAT test to students across the country. This new Redesigned SAT test looks quite different from the old exam! One of the major changes is the SAT scoring system. On the old  SAT exam, you received scores for Critical Reading, Math and Writing, but no subscores, area scores or specific content scores.. The Redesigned SAT Scoring system offers those scores and much more.   Confused about any of the information you see below? Ill bet! Its tough to decipher the scores if you don’t understand the Redesigned tests format. Check out the Old SAT vs. Redesigned SAT chart for an easy explanation of each tests design.  Want to know even more about the redesign? Check out  Redesigned SAT 101  for  all  the facts.   Redesigned Score Changes When taking the exam, there are a couple of things that will impact your score. First, multiple choice questions no longer have five answer choices; instead, there are four. Second, incorrect answers are no longer penalized  ¼ point. Instead, correct answers earn 1 point and incorrect answers earn 0 points. The 18 Redesigned SAT Scores On Your Report Here are the different types of scores youll receive when you get your score report. Please keep in mind that the test scores, subscores, and cross-test scores do not add up to equal the composite or area scores. They are simply reported to provide additional analysis of your skills. And yes, there are a lot of them! 2 Area Scores You can earn a 200 – 800 in each areaEvidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math will each garner a score between 200 – 800, similar to the old SAT scoring system. 1 Composite Score You can earn a 400 – 1600The composite score will be the sum of the 2 area scores for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (not including the Essay) and Math. 3 Test Scores You can earn a 10 – 40 in each areaThe Reading Test, The Writing and Language Test, and the Math Test will each receive a separate score between 10 – 40. 3 Essay Scores You can earn a 2 – 8 in each areaThe Essay will receive three scores in 3 areas. 2 Cross-Test Scores You can earn a 10 – 40 in each areaSince texts and graphics will be used from History/Social Studies and Science across the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math tests, youll receive separate scores demonstrating your command of these topics. 7 Subscores You can earn a 1-15 in each areaThe Reading Test will receive subscores in 2 areas which are combined with 2 of the Writing Tests subscores.The Writing Test will receive subscores in 4 areas (2 of which are combined with the Reading Tests subscores).The Math Test will receive subscores in 3 areas. Scores By Content Confused yet? I was, when I first started digging in! Perhaps this will help a bit. When you get your score report back, youll see the scores divided by test sections: 1). Reading 2). Writing and Language and 3). Math. Lets look at the scores divided that way to see if it clears a few things up. The Reading Test Scores When you look at just your Reading scores youll see these four scores: A score between 200 – 800 for this test and the Writing Test combined.A score between 10 – 40 just for this test.A subscore between 1 – 15 for how youve comprehended Words in Context. Itll be labeled as such on your score report and will be combined with Words in Context results from the Writing and Language Test, too.A subscore between 1 – 15 for how youve demonstrated a Command of Evidence. Again, this subscore is taken from both Reading and Writing and Language.   The Writing and Language Test Scores Here are the six scores youll receive on your Writing and Language Test: A score between 200 – 800 for this test and the Reading Test combined.A score between 10 – 40 just for this test.A subscore between 1 – 15 for how youve comprehended Words in Context. Itll be labeled as such on your score report and will be combined with Words in Context results from the Reading Test.A subscore between 1 – 15 for how youve demonstrated a Command of Evidence. Again, this subscore is taken from both Reading and Writing and Language.A subscore between 1 – 15 for Expression of IdeasA subscore between 1 – 15 for Standard English Conventions The Math Test Scores Below, find the five scores youll see for the Math Test A score between 200 – 800 for this testA score between 10 – 40 for this test.A subscore between 1 – 15 for Heart of Algebra which is one of the content areas on the test.A subscore between 1 – 15 for Passport to Advanced Math which is one of the content areas on the test.A subscore between 1 – 15 for Problem-Solving and Data Analysis which is one of the content areas on the test. The Optional Essay Scores Taking the essay? Since its optional, you get to choose, but if youre applying to a college or university that considers the essay in its decision-making, you may need to take it whether youd like to or not. The scores are a sum of the results of 1-4 from two separate graders. Here are the scores youll see when you get your report: A score between 2 – 8 for ReadingA score between 2 – 8 for Analysis of the textA score between 2 – 8 for Writing Concordance Between the Old SAT Scores and the Redesigned SAT Scores Since the old SAT and the Redesigned SAT are very different tests, a 600 on one Math test is not equivalent to a 600 on the other. The College Board knows that and has put together sets of concordance tables for the SAT. Likewise, theyve also put together a concordance table between the ACT and the Redesigned SAT. Check it out, here.