The SAT: Scoring, Official Practice and How Colleges Use It

Used for U.S. undergraduate admission. Many colleges are test-optional; check each college's policy.

Scoring, from the test maker

• Total score is 400–1600: the sum of the Reading and Writing section and the Math section.
• Each section is scored 200–800, in 10-point intervals.
• The SAT is a digital, multistage adaptive test taken in the Bluebook app.

Official preparation

• College Board: SAT practice and preparation (full-length practice tests in Bluebook, Khan Academy)

Test fees, dates and rules change; confirm them with the test maker when you register.

Using your score

Each college page lists its federal SAT/ACT policy and middle 50% scores from the College Scorecard. Browse test-optional colleges by state.

Official sources

• College Board: What do my SAT Suite scores mean? (checked Oct 23, 2026)
• College Board: How scores are calculated (checked Oct 23, 2026)