Digital SAT® Score Calculator

How Is The Digital SAT Structured?

The DigitalSAT® consists of two sections: Reading and Writing and Math.

Each section consists of 2 modules, with 27 questions in each Reading and Writing module and 22 questions in each Math module for a total of 98 questions. There are no penalties for guessing, so answering every question is recommended.

The exam itself takes 2 hours and 14 minutes in total, with each Reading and Writing module taking 32 minutes and each Math module taking 35 minutes. There is a 10-minute break in between the two sections (after Reading and Writing and before Math).

To learn more about the SAT exam format, check out our in-depth guide here.

Adaptive Scoring

One of the most important changes in the digital SAT is adaptive testing, a testing model where the exam dynamically adjusts its difficulty based on the student's performance in real-time.

How It Works

Adaptive testing on the digital SAT operates by dividing the test into modules, with each student's performance in an initial module determining the difficulty level of the subsequent one. This approach means that doing well in the first module could lead to harder questions in the next, while struggling might result in easier ones.

Adaptive testing aims to provide a more accurate assessment of a student's abilities, tailoring the difficulty of questions to match their skill level. This method benefits students by offering a test that is more representative of their individual knowledge and skills, and because it is better at testing students' abilities the test can be shorter (versus the old SAT which was over 3 hours long).

For more information on adaptive testing, read our comprehensive adaptive testing guide.

How To Maximize Your Score On Adaptive Tests

Like studying for any other exam, preparing for the adaptive digital SAT revolves around get familiar with the exam through practice tests.

The best resource is of course College Board's Bluebook application. These practice tests, written by the same creators of the real exam, are adaptive and are crucial for students to understand how the test works. Students should make sure to take each exam and pay attention how the difficulty changes between module 1 and 2.

Additionally, students should consider taking the PSAT/NMSQT® exam as it has also transitioned to an adaptive format, providing a valuable preview of what to expect on the SAT. The digital PSAT covers almost exactly the same topics and uses the same format as the digital SAT.

Score Ranges and Scaling

The scoring process involves converting raw scores (one point per correct answer, with no penalty for wrong answers) to scaled scores using a curve that is exam-specific.

For example, scoring 52/54 can be a perfect 800 in Reading and Writing in some exams, but in other cases it can translate to a 780.

The scoring range on the digital SAT remains comparable to the traditional SAT, with scores ranging from 400 to 1600. However, the Reading and Writing sections are now combined, and the Math section allows calculators throughout.

Although there is no universal scaling algorithm as each curve is exam-specific, in general getting a difficult question wrong is penalized less than getting an easy question wrong.

What Is A Good Score?

A "good" score depends on individual goals, but statistically, a 1200 (600 in Math, 600 in Reading and Writing) is considered above average. The digital SAT's scoring algorithm accounts for the difficulty of questions answered, potentially impacting final scores.

To qualify for top-50 schools (in the US), students should aim for at least a 1400. While SAT score is not the sole criterion for admission, it significantly enhances a student's profile. This score, coupled with strong academic records, extracurricular achievements, and compelling personal essays, positions applicants favorably.

For admission to elite top-20 universities, the standards are even higher. A score of 1500 or above is often seen as a threshold in the highly-selective admissions processes in these schools. Again, SAT score isn't everything, but a near-perfect score can boost a student's application.