SAT Result and Score - How to Calculate & Send Scores to Colleges

Understanding SAT Scores might prove to be a tough task for candidates. The overall SAT test is scored on a scale of 400-1600, whereas in India, students are used to understanding scores in percentiles. That is why having a data table for interpreting SAT and Subject Test scores becomes necessary. Here is how the SAT score percentile is calculated.

SAT Results 2020

Candidates who plan to appear for their SAT exam are required to keep the below dates in mind. Candidates are advised to complete their SAT Registration before the deadline to avoid any last-minute confusion. The expected SAT Score dates have also been published for the convenience of our readers.

2020-21 SAT Score Release Schedule

SAT Test Date	Online SAT Score Release Date	College Receiving score date
August 29, 2020	Multiple-choice scores release date: September 21 SAT Essay scores release date: September 24	September 26, 2020
September 26, 2020	Multiple-choice scores release date: October 9 SAT Essay scores release date: October 12	October 23, 2020
October 3, 2020	Multiple-choice scores release date: October 16 SAT Essay scores release date: October 19	October 31, 2020
November 7, 2020	Multiple-choice scores release date: November 20 SAT Essay scores release date: November 23	December 4, 2020
December 5, 2020	Multiple-choice scores release date: December 18 SAT Essay scores release date: December 21	January 2, 2021
March 13, 2021	Multiple-choice scores release date: March 26, 2021 SAT Essay scores release date: March 29, 2021	April 10, 2021
May 8, 2021	Multiple-choice scores release date: May 21, 2021 SAT Essay scores release date: May 24, 2021	June 5, 2021
June 5, 2021	Multiple-choice scores release date: July 14, 2021 SAT Essay scores release date: July 14, 2021	July 26, 2021

SAT Score

SAT score reports consist of the following information

The Total Score: As the title suggests, the Total Score is the sum of the two Section Scores and this score ranges from 400 to 1600.
Sectional Score: The sectional score ranges from 200-800 and is based on the performance of the candidate on the Math Section and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing Sections.
Subscore (marks scored in each type of question): Subscores are multiple points for Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Sections, all ranging from 1 to 15. The main purpose of Sub scores is to provide additional insight into the students’ performance.
Essay score (if applicable): Candidates who have undertaken the SAT with the essay will have the scores for Essay Reading (2-8 points), Essay Writing (2-8 points) and Essay Analysis (2-8 points) displayed under the Essay Details tab.
Student’s percentile: The student’s percentile score tells you how well the student has performed his SAT exam as compared to other test takers.

At a Glance – Components of an SAT Score Report and what they mean

Components	Description	Score Range
Total Score	The aggregate of the two section scores	400–1600
Section Scores	Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math Sections	200–800
Test Scores	Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Sections.	10–40
SAT Essay Scores (optional)	Reading, Analysis, and Writing.	2–8
Cross-Test	These scores show how well you use your skills to analyze texts and solve problems in these subject areas.	10–40
Sub Scores	Reading and Writing and Language: Command of Evidence and Words in Context. Writing and Language: Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions. Math: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced Math.	1–1

SAT Subject Test Percentiles

As the term suggests, SAT Subject Test Percentile ranks compare a student’s scores to other students who appeared for the same test. So for example, if a test takers SAT Math 2 Subject Test score is 500 and if the percentile rank for 500 is 50, then this basically means that the candidate has done better than 50 percent of the students who took the particular test, i.e. SAT Math 2 Subject Test.

Since a different percentage of students take the different subject exams under SAT Subject Tests, hence it would be technically incorrect to compare the SAT Subject Test Chemistry Percentile with SAT Subject Test Math 2 Percentile or vice versa. Candidates looking to see how they have fared in the SAT Subject Test with other candidates can check out SAT Subject Test Percentiles 2019 and for other past years on the official CollegeBoard website – the conducting body of the SAT exam.

Check Score v/s Percentile

Here is a table to show students how the SAT Score percentile is calculated.

SAT Scaled Score Range (Out of 1600)	Percentile
1600	99+
1550	99+
1510	99
1450	98
1400	95
1330	90
1230	80
1170	71
1110	61
1060	51
1000	40
950	31
890	21
810	11
750	5
680	1
630	1-
400	1-

How to check the SAT score?

Candidates can access the SAT score report on their College Board profile.

Steps to check SAT scores

Step 1- Visit the College Board's site
Step 2- Sign in using your ID and password
Step 3- Click on My Organiser and go to SAT scores
Step 4- Click on Access My Scores and enter your username and password
Step 5- Go to My Test Scores
Step 6- Your SAT scores will appear on the screen

Candidates can send their score reports to the colleges using Score Choice.

How to Get SAT and Subject Test Scores

Once you are finished with the SAT exam, it is time to send exam scores to the colleges. This is one of the most crucial parts of the whole application process. Most colleges prefer to get the score reports directly from the College Board and not the copies of the report or score report labels on the transcripts.

When to Expect Scores

Your SAT score result will be available online around 4-5 weeks after your test date. Once the score result is available, the College Board begins sending SAT score reports to the colleges the candidate has selected, if any, at the time of registration.

Other Ways to Get Scores

Students who don’t have easy access to the Internet can check out alternative methods of receiving their SAT Score, these include

Paper Score Reports: Candidates who register by mail and don't have an active College Board online accounts will receive paper score reports.
Scores by phone: Candidates can also receive their scores over the phone. However, they would be required to pay an extra fee for the same.
Candidates can also access their scores by logging into their online score report and taking a print out of the same.

What is Score Choice

With Score Choice, one gets the freedom to report the score he/she chooses to send to colleges. The candidate can choose the score report by test date or by individual test for SAT Subject Tests. However, before sending the scores always make sure to check with the college or the scholarship program where you are applying, as many colleges and scholarship programs require students to send all their scores. If the candidate doesn’t select Score Choice then College Board will send all the available scores of the candidate to the colleges which he/she has selected as score recipients.

How to send Scores during Registration?

Applicants receive four free score reports while registering for the SAT exam. Applicants get the option of sending these reports to their choice of colleges or scholarship programs for free. Aspirants can send the scores up to nine days of taking the test. After nine days they will be charged for sending the score reports. With this, the aspirant can send four reports for free. However, there is a catch, the aspirants are sending the scores without knowing their actual scores. This means, the candidates won’t be able to choose the score they want to send or they won’t be able to send their best scores. In this case, it is advisable to send the score reports to the colleges that want to see all the SAT scores of the candidates.

Note: The SAT exam has undergone a big change in 2016. Changes include a new structure, new score, new sections, and a new approach to testing. Read all about the New SAT.

Cost of sending SAT Additional Score Report to Colleges

Once the candidates get their scores, anytime they can send the score reports to their preferred colleges. However, they have to pay $12 to send a score report to each university they select. In this case, it is always advisable to send your overall SAT score to the colleges that do not require SAT scores for all the exams you have taken. Also, send your best section scores to colleges that superscore the SAT.

Rush Reporting

Rush reporting is a process where the score report of the aspirant is sent to the colleges within two to four business days excluding holidays and weekends. However, this can only be availed for the scores which are already released. The aspirant needs to pay an additional score report fee of $31 to avail of this facility. Apart from this, additional score report fees can also be levied on rush reporting.

Always make sure to check with your colleges in which format they accept the report. Also, check their schedule for processing the application as they will only review your scores as per their schedule. Moreover, not all the colleges accept Rush Reporting, always make sure to check with your college before sending the score through Rush Reporting.

Fee Waivers and Extra Free Reports

For the economically weaker sections and low-income students, the College Board offers SAT fee waivers/scholarships. It allows a student to send his/her SAT score to the colleges of their choice for free of cost. However, the eligibility differs as per the latest changes. You can contact the representative of the College Board or read about the criteria on their website and apply accordingly.

Sending Old Scores

Sending score reports to colleges up to five years after giving the test needs to be retrieved from the archives. The candidates need to pay $31 if they want to send SAT scores they have taken more than a year ago. Candidates also need to pay an additional score report fee every time they wish to send their old reports to the colleges. Further, the candidates cannot order old SAT scores online through the College Board, this can be done only through their customer support number or mail.

What is Superscore?

It is a process where colleges do not take into consideration the scores of one particular date rather they consider the candidate’s highest section scores across all the SAT exams which the candidate has appeared for. It means colleges consider the highest Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score and highest Mathematics score of the candidate and combine them to get the overall score.

What is Archived Score Reporting?

If someone has not appeared for the SAT for more than a year than those scores get archived. If someone wants to report the archived scores to the colleges or universities then they need to retrieve the scores. They can be ordered through phone or mail. Candidates need to pay $31 fee for retrieving the old scores, also the standard fee for additional score report i.e. $12 needs to be paid for each order along with the Archived fee. So, the total amount comes out to be $43 per old score report.

Understanding Scores

The SAT score range is between 400 and 1600 for your total score, and 200-800 for each of your two subscores. One sub score is for combined Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and the other one is for Math. The additional sub-scores are reported for the essay which is optional ranging from 2- 8 points and for Reading, Writing and Language, and Mathematics on a 10-40 scale.

Verifying Your Scores

SAT Score verification is nothing but a revaluation of your test scores, to check that you have received scores in all sections and nothing has been skipped. So, if you feel that the SAT score that you received is different than what you expected, you may have missed or made a mistake in marking your answers. Another reason for different SAT scores than expected can be that your Essay is illegible or blank when one views it online. Under SAT score verification you have three options:

Multiple-choice hand score verification
Essay score verification
Or both, Multiple-choice and Essay score

Canceling Scores

For any reason, you need to cancel your SAT Score, here are two methods through which one can cancel their SAT scores:

At the test center: If you are unsure about how the test went, or if you feel like you have skipped a number of questions, you can cancel your test right then and there. Right at that moment, at the test center, you can ask the supervisor for a ‘Request to Cancel Test Scores’ form. Fill in all details along with your signature. Submit the form with the supervisor. Make sure you submit this before leaving the test center.
At home: If your poor performance hits you after you leave the test center, you can cancel your test at home as well. However, there is a time limit to it. You need to submit your cancellation request by writing by to College Board as quickly as you can because the deadline of receiving such requests will be 11:59 PM (IST) of a Wednesday after the test date. You need to download ‘Request to Cancel Test Scores’ online from the College Board website, fill in your details, sign it, and fax it or speed-post/courier it overnight.

When do SAT Scores Come Out? Full Schedule

2020 SAT Score Release Schedule

SAT Test Date	Multiple-Choice Scores Release Date	SAT Registration Deadline
March 14, 2020	March 27, 2020	March 30, 2020
May 2, 2020	May 15, 2020	May 18, 2020
June 6, 2020	July 15, 2020	July 15, 2020

Cut-off for SAT

The SAT is considered one of the most important aspects of the college application process. Students who wish to pursue their higher studies in the USA must be familiar with this standardized test. It is conducted to secure admissions in various colleges offering degrees across the USA. These days’ policies are changing periodically, so, it is always advisable to check the testing requirements of the college you are applying to. The cut-offs for the top universities in the US and Canada range between 1400 and 1600.

University	Score Range
Brown University	1410-1570
Cornell University	1390-1550
Columbia University	1460-1580
Dartmouth College	1440-1580
Harvard University	1480-1600
University of Pennsylvania	1440-1570
Princeton University	1470-1600
Yale University	1480-1600

What is considered a good SAT score?

An average SAT score is around 1000. Anything above 1200 is considered a good SAT score. The maximum anyone can score on the SAT is the perfect score of 1600. Since you receive scaled scores, you should have some understanding of SAT scaled scores and percentiles. For a detailed understanding of What a good SAT Score is: read this.

How should I improve my SAT score?

Students preparing for the SAT usually are confused about how much preparation is required for SAT and when should they start with it. There are no straight answers as the process of preparation is different for every student. Here are a few pointers that could help you figure the preparation stage a bit better.