Standardized tests can be overwhelming, and their complex scoring system can feel impossible to understand. However, when you break it down, it's much simpler than you might assume.

For the SAT Math section, you start with a base score of 200 points. The number of questions you answer correctly out of the 40 total questions is your raw score. This raw score then converts to a specific scaled score using a conversion chart. For example, if a student answers 22 math questions correctly, their raw score is 22, which may convert to a scaled score of 530, but this depends on the specific conversion chart for that exam.

The scoring for the ELAR (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) section is similar. Your raw score is the total number of correct answers. First, you'll add the raw scores from both ELAR Module 1 and ELAR Module 2. Then, you'll use a conversion chart to translate that total raw score into a scaled score. For example, if a student correctly answers 12 questions in Module 1 and 14 in Module 2, their total raw score is 26, which may convert to a section score of 510, but this depends on the specific conversion chart for that exam.

Our ChalkTalk SAT diagnostic has a slightly different scoring system than the official College Board SAT.

First, all students start the Math section with 200 points, regardless of how many questions they answer correctly. Unlike the official SAT, which uses a statistical conversion for raw scores, we directly convert raw scores to section scores using a specific SAT Score Chart for both the Math and ELAR sections.

Additionally, 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.

One important similarity between the official SAT and ChalkTalk's diagnostic is that each test sitting (Math Module 1, Math Module 2, Reading and Writing Module 1, Reading and Writing Module 2) includes two unscored questions. When reviewing test reports, teachers can see which two questions were not scored (Tests > Practice Test > Reports).
​

​

Standardized tests can be overwhelming, and their complex scoring systems can feel impossible to understand. However, when you break it down, it's much simpler than you might assume.

For the PSAT Math section, you start with a base score of 120 points. The number of questions you answer correctly out of the 44 total questions is your raw score. This raw score then corresponds to a specific scaled score, as detailed by the PSAT Score Chart. For example, if a student answers 22 math questions correctly, their raw score is 22, which may convert to a scaled score of 450, but this depends on the specific conversion chart for that exam.

Scoring for the ELA (English Language Arts) section is similar. Your raw score is the total number of correct answers. To calculate the scaled score, you'll first add the raw scores from both ELA Module 1 and ELA Module 2. That total raw score is then translated into a scaled score using the PSAT Score Chart. For instance, if a student answers 12 questions correctly in Module 1 and 14 in Module 2, their total raw score would be 26, which may convert to a section score of 432, but this depends on the specific conversion chart for that exam.

The scoring system for our PSAT diagnostic presents some slight deviations from the standard PSAT administered by the College Board.

For example, on our diagnostic, all test-takers start the Math section with a fixed score of 120 points, regardless of the number of correct answers. Unlike the standard PSAT, where raw scores undergo a statistical conversion process, our diagnostic directly converts raw scores into section scores using a specific score chart for both the Math and ELAR (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) sections.

Additionally, our diagnostic simplifies the calculation for the final ELAR scaled score. While the official PSAT uses a more complex method, our diagnostic achieves the final scaled score by adding the section scores for Reading and Writing and then multiplying the sum by 10. This method yields a final scaled score ranging from 120 to 990.

One important similarity between the official PSAT and ChalkTalk's diagnostic is that each test sitting (Math Module 1, Math Module 2, Reading and Writing Module 1, Reading and Writing Module 2) includes two unscored questions. When reviewing test reports, teachers can see which two questions were not scored (Tests > Practice Test > Reports).

Have questions? Contact us here.