Thomas Broderick

Old SAT to New SAT Writing Score Conversion Table

Hello again, Magooshers. Today I come to you with some important information about the new SAT Writing Test scoring system. Let’s say, for example, you took the old SAT and the new SAT. Even if your two scores are identical, there has still been a change in your performance. It can be confusing to figure out if your score has actually gone up or down.

Use the handy-dandy chart below to see how your scores match up. Don’t forget that when you’re comparing scores between different standardized tests, be sure to check out our ACT to New SAT to Old SAT Score Conversion Chart.

 

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Old SAT Writing Section (200-800) New SAT Writing and Language Test (10-40)
200 10
210 11
220 11
230 12
240 13
250 14
260 14
270 15
280 16
290 17
300 17
310 18
320 18
330 19
340 19
350 20
360 21
370 21
380 22
390 22
400 23
410 24
420 24
430 25
440 25
450 26
460 27
470 27
480 28
490 28
500 28
510 29
520 29
530 30
540 30
550 31
560 31
570 32
580 32
590 33
600 33
610 33
620 34
630 34
640 35
650 35
660 35
670 36
680 36
690 36
700 37
710 37
720 37
730 38
740 38
750 38
760 39
770 39
780 40
790 40
800 40

Why the Change?

As with the rest of the redesigned SAT, the Writing and Language Test better reflects real life situations. The goal of this test is to measure students’ ability to demonstrate their knowledge of the English language through editing different texts. The score students receive is used as a predictor for college success.

To be successful on the Writing Test, you need to understand what the test measures:

  • “Command of Evidence”
    • Questions will ask you to make changes to a passage, the goal being to make the passage’s argument stronger.
  • “Words in Context”
    • Questions will ask you to choose a better word to improve the passage’s style or tone.
  • “Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science”
    • Questions will ask you to act like an editor, and make changes to improve the passage.
  • “Expression of Ideas”
    • Questions will ask you to improve a passage’s organization of ideas and improve how paragraphs connect to one another.
  • “Standard English Conventions”
    • Questions will ask you improve sentence structure, punctuation, and usage.

Now that you know what’s changed on the Writing Test, it’s time to tackle a few practice problems to hone your skills and improve your score.

Till next time, Magooshers.

Author

  • Thomas Broderick

    Thomas spent four years teaching high school English, social studies, and ACT preparation in Middle Tennessee. Now living in Northern California, he is excited to share his knowledge and experience with Magoosh’s readers. In his spare time Thomas enjoys writing short fiction and hiking in the Sonoma foothills.

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