How Standardized Tests are Scored: A Guide to Raw vs. Scaled Scores 💯

Part 1: The Big Question: What is a "Raw Score" vs. a "Scaled Score"?

Part 2: How are SAT & PSAT Scores Calculated?

Part 3:💡How ChalkTalk PSAT Diagnostic Scoring Works

Part 4: 💡How ChalkTalk SAT Diagnostic Scoring Works

Part 5: How are ACT Scores Calculated?

Part 6: Where to Find Your Scores on ChalkTalk

Raw Score: This is simply the number of questions you answered correctly. If you get 48 questions right, your raw score is 48.

Scaled Score: This is the final score you see on your report (e.g., "1350" on the SAT or "28" on the ACT). This score is converted from your raw score using a process called "equating."

Math: A student answers 22 questions correctly. Their raw score is 22.

Reading & Writing (ELA): A student answers 12 questions in Module 1 and 14 in Module 2. Their total raw score is 26.

Total Score: 450 (Math) + 432 (ELA) = 882

All test-takers start the Math section with a fixed score of 120 points, regardless of the number of correct answers.

We directly convert raw scores into section scores using a specific score chart for both Math and ELAR (unlike the statistical conversion of the standard PSAT).

Our diagnostic simplifies the final ELAR scaled score: we add the section scores for Reading and Writing and then multiply the sum by 10. This yields a final scaled score ranging from 120 to 990.

All students start the Math section with 200 points, regardless of how many questions they answer correctly.

We directly convert raw scores to section scores using a specific SAT Score Chart for both the Math and ELAR sections (unlike the official statistical conversion).

Our final ELAR (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) score is calculated more simply: we add the section scores for Reading and Writing and multiply the sum by 10. This gives a final scaled score ranging from 200 to 800.

Raw Score: This is simply the number of questions you answered correctly in a section. You get 1 point for every correct answer. There is no penalty for wrong answers.

Scaled Score: This is your final score on the 1–36 scale. ACT uses a process called equating to turn your raw score into a scaled score. This ensures that a score of 28 on a hard version of the test means the same thing as a score of 28 on an easier version.

Science is no longer part of the Composite: Even if you choose to take the Science section, those points will not be factored into your 1–36 Composite score.

Rounding: The average is rounded to the nearest whole number (e.g., a 25.66 will round to a 26, while a 25.33 will round to a 25).

Science Score (1–36): If you take it, you receive a standalone score. This is useful for students applying to STEM programs.

STEM Score (1–36): If you take Science, the ACT provides a STEM score, which is the average of your Math and Science scores.

Writing Score (2–12): This remains a separate score and does not affect your Composite or STEM scores.

Higher Stakes per Question: Because there are fewer "operational" questions (questions that actually count toward your score), missing just one or two questions can drop your scaled score more significantly than it did on the legacy version.

English: 31

Math: 24

Reading: 22