SAT Scores...I'm really confused!

[Luv2Camp]

My DD took the SAT about three weeks ago. She got an e-mail today with the preliminary results. Here are her scores:

Critical reading - 460
Math - 490
Writing - 520

This is the first time she's taken the SAT, and she hasn't received the official grade card, so we're a little confused what these scores mean. Do we add the three scores? She's right on the boarder line of receiving an honors diploma, and receiving a good SAT score will help her. She's a Junior, and I believe she can take the SAT three more times.

Thanks for your help - She would really like some clarification, and I have no idea what to tell her!

Happy Easter everyone!

 

[traviesojmt]

I found the following online. If you google "understanding sat scores", you will find several articles that tell you what the scores mean. I hope this helps.

The SAT

SAT results are available online within a month after the test date, and scores are mailed out about a week after that. Your score for the Reasoning Test will include separate scores for the critical reading, math, and writing sections. Each section is reported on a 200–800 scale, for a total possible score of 2400. In addition, you will receive a separate sub-score of 1–6 for the essay.

According to the College Board, in 2009 the average college-bound senior scored a 501 on the critical reading section and 515 on math.

SAT Subject Tests are also reported on a 200–800 scale. Average scores vary from test to test, but they tend to be higher than for the Reasoning Test because the participants normally are students who excel in that particular subject.

 

[MariDisney]

My DD isn't in HS yet, but I am in the education field and find looking at test scores and averages interesting.

I found a website with the average scores for 2008:
•Critical Reading: 502
•Math: 515
•Writing: 494

So, it seems like maybe your DD's score came in around the average or slightly below (for reading and math) range assuming that the scores for this year would be right about the same.

 

[dis-happy]

Consider having her take the ACT too. Some kids score proportionally higher on one test over the other.

 

[Luv2Camp]

Thanks for the info! So, her total score is 1470, right? It seems to easy to just add them together!

 

[Art 1]

You can take the SAT as often as you need. You add the reading and math together to get your score. Schools look at the third but are not paying as much attention to it. Your daughter is going to need to get those scores up and has some time to do so.

 

[SilverSynchro919]

Yes, that is her total score =]

When I took the SATs, I took an SAT prep class beforehand and I found it EXTREMELY helpful. You should consider signing your daughter up for one as well, especially because she has so much time to take them again.

 

[Art 1]

Thanks for the info! So, her total score is 1470, right? It seems to easy to just add them together!

You could say that but most would say it's a 950.

 

[SilverSynchro919]

You could say that but most would say it's a 950.

Actually this is false, most colleges are taking the writing score now as well.

 

[Art 1]

Actually this is false, most colleges are taking the writing score now as well.

Some, not most. My daughter is a senior in HS and has applied to a number of schools, my Son is now in college. The writing score is not looked at by most colleges.

 

[BillSears]

You could say that but most would say it's a 950.

Actually this is false, most colleges are taking the writing score now as well.

So a 950 on the old 1600 max scale and a 1470 on the new 2400 max?

 

[momrek06]

Yikes, OP, this does seem confusing.

Both my DS' are college grads and when they were applying it was the old way = 800 for writing and 800 for math! Easier to figure out.

To me, it looks like your DD's score would be 1470 but as I read here Art states that in reality her score is 950.

 

[snowy76]

So a 950 on the old 1600 max scale and a 1470 on the new 2400 max?

Basically!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Actually this is false, most colleges are taking the writing score now as well.

Which colleges? I know the school my dd is a freshman at only cared about the CR/Math score.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yikes, OP, this does seem confusing.

Both my DS' are college grads and when they were applying it was the old way = 800 for writing and 800 for math! Easier to figure out.

To me, it looks like your DD's score would be 1470 but as I read here Art states that in reality her score is 950.

No, we are just saying that most colleges only are looking at the CR/Math score because the writing part is "newish". Although I think it just gave them an excuse to exclude the writing score.

 

[asta]

I am in the camp of looking at the first two scores. With an SAT of 950 she will need to bring that up to be competitive at most schools. I am the mother of a high school senior who scored 1290 on the combination of the first two parts on her SAT and she was hardly looked at by competitive schools. The 1290 is a good score but not was not good enough for a lot of scholarships and it did not get her into any of her stretch schools.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

DD applied to 8 colleges in her search this year. Not one of the schools used the writing for decision.

Add the first two numbers to get your daughters SAT scores.

Here is August 2009 average scores.

Critical reading
• Average score: 501
• Females: 498
• Males: 503

Math:
• Average score: 515
• Females: 499
• Males: 534

Writing:
• Average score: 493
• Females: 499
• Males: 486


Just to give you a few examples of what a college may expect:

Boston University:

SAT Critical Reading: 570 - 660
SAT Math: 600 - 690
SAT Writing: 590 - 680
ACT Composite: 26 - 30 36%

 

[Luv2Camp]

Thank you so much for your responses. No wonder I was confused! I wish the SAT study courses were offered in our area (we live in a very rural area), but we have purchased all of the study guides. She takes the ACT next Saturday - Hopefully that'll go well!

Thanks again, and I hope everyone has a very happy Easter!

 

[Christine]

My DD only scored a little above 1500 last year. She took the SAT twice and didn't improve much on the second test. She did a prep course. Her scores were considered "not good" in our area and the fell below most of what our state schools accepted. In our state, college entrance into public universities is very competitive and her SAT scores just didn't make the grade, so to speak. She ended up doing better on the ACT.

I am a little surprised that your DD is in honors courses and this was the score she got. Do you think she could have been having a bad day? It could be that the SAT is not a good format for her.

 

[Inigo]

With those scores, I'd be signing my child up to retake the test. Have her complete an SAT study course of some kind before retesting so that her scores improve.