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 People are getting back their SAT scores now, and I know it can be a bit confusing. Let me give you the simple explanation for SAT essay score results.

Please note that as of January 2021, The College Board has discontinued SAT Subject Tests® and SAT® essay.

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 SAT Essay scores are confusing to interpret because the College Board has made it confusing. Everything about it is vague. No percentiles are given in score reports, adding to the confusion. Let's see how I can clear up an always-muddy area. 

An essay gets a score between 2 and 8. On the SAT, an average overall score is 1,080 and an average essay scores 5/4/5 on the three areas they measure. Depending on the child, then, a good scores is between 5 and 7, and a perfect score is 8.

Let me explain the scores in more detail. Each essay receives 2–8 scores in each of three areas: reading, analysis, and writing.

1. Reading: Do they understand what they read, the main ideas, and the details? It's sort of like a reading comprehension score.
2. Analysis: Do they understand the author's reasoning, style or persuasive techniques? 
3. Writing: How well does the student write? This score takes into cosideration vocabulary, clarity, organization, sentence structure, etc.

The essay is read by two teachers (usually English teachers) and they grade each essay with a 1-4 in each of those three areas. The final score is simply the sum of two readers' 1–4 ratings in each area. Again, at least two people evaluate each essay. 

I hope this makes interpreting your child's SAT scores a little easier. At least now you have some understanding of how those scores are arrived at. If you feel you need more help in this area, join my Gold Care Club. I can walk you through the SAT's from preparation to score interpretation, and I'd love to help!

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