SAT · 5 min read
How Is the SAT Scored? The Score Chart Explained (400–1600)
The SAT is reported on a 400–1600 scale, and understanding how that number is built helps you set a realistic target and read your practice results correctly. Here is exactly how Digital SAT scoring works.
The 400–1600 total, in two halves
Your total SAT score runs from 400 to 1600. It is the sum of two section scores, each on a 200–800 scale: Reading & Writing, and Math. Add the two section scores together and you get your total.
That means a perfect score is 1600 (800 + 800), and the lowest possible is 400 (200 + 200). The average total score is roughly in the low-1000s, so a score above that is above the national average.
How raw answers become a scaled score
You earn one raw point for each correct answer, and there is no penalty for wrong answers — so you should answer every question, even if you have to guess.
Your raw score (number correct) is then converted to the 200–800 scale for each section. The conversion is not a fixed percentage: it is equated so that a given scaled score means the same ability across different test forms.
The Digital SAT is section-adaptive
Each section has two modules. Your performance on the first module determines whether the second module is easier or harder. Doing well on module one routes you to a harder module two, which is what unlocks the top of the score range.
This is why two students who answer the same number of questions can get different scaled scores: the difficulty of the questions you saw is built into the conversion.
Reading your practice scores
When you take a full-length practice test, convert each section to the 200–800 scale using the answer key, then add them for a /1600 estimate. Track that number over time — a rising practice score is the clearest sign your prep is working.
Focus your drilling on the section and domain where you are losing the most points; a 30-point gain on your weaker section moves your total as much as a 30-point gain on your stronger one.
The fastest way to raise your score is to practise the real format.
Kramizo gives you instantly-marked SAT practice with streaks and progress tracking — free to start, no card.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest SAT score?
The highest possible SAT score is 1600 — a perfect 800 on Reading & Writing and 800 on Math.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers on the SAT?
No. You earn points for correct answers and lose nothing for wrong ones, so you should answer every question — guess if you have to.
What is a good SAT score?
It depends on your target schools, but scores above the national average (roughly the low-1000s) are solid, 1200+ is competitive for many colleges, and 1400+ is in the top few percent.
Why did my score not match my percent correct?
The SAT is section-adaptive and equated: harder questions and harder second modules are worth more in the conversion, so your scaled score reflects difficulty, not just the raw count.