SAT Scoring Percentages and Guide

6    100–97%
6-   96–93

5+  92–89
5    88–85
5-   84–81

4+  80–77
4    76–73
4-   72–71
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3+  70–68
3    67–65
3-   64–62

2+  61–59
2    58–56
2-  55–51

1   50


The following information was excerpted from the College Board.  Please go there for more information:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/writing-sat-essay?pageId=practiceWritingEssay&tabValue=scoring
  1. Score of 6

    An essay in this category demonstrates clear and consistent mastery, although it may have a few minor errors. A typical essay:
    • Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons and other evidence to support its position
    • Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas
    • Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate and apt vocabulary
    • Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure
    • Is free of most errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
    Score = 6 (Example 1)
    Score = 6 (Example 2)
  2. Score of 5

    An essay in this category demonstrates reasonably consistent mastery, although it has occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay:
    • Effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons and other evidence to support its position
    • Is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas
    • Exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary
    • Demonstrates variety in sentence structure
    • Is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
    Score = 5 (Example 1)
    Score = 5 (Example 2)
  3. Score of 4

    An essay in this category demonstrates adequate mastery, although it has lapses in quality. A typical essay:
    • Develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons and other evidence to support its position
    • Is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas
    • Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using generally appropriate vocabulary
    • Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
    • Has some errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
    Score = 4 (Example 1)
    Score = 4 (Example 2)
  4. Score of 3

    An essay in this category demonstrates developing mastery, and is marked by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
    • Develops a point of view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking, but may do so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons or other evidence to support its position
    • Is limited in its organization or focus, or may demonstrate some lapses in coherence or progression of ideas
    • Displays developing facility in the use of language, but sometimes uses weak vocabulary or inappropriate word choice
    • Lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure
    • Contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
    Score = 3 (Example 1)
  5. Score of 2

    An essay in this category demonstrates little mastery, and is flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
    • Develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, and demonstrates weak critical thinking, providing inappropriate or insufficient examples, reasons or other evidence to support its position
    • Is poorly organized and/or focused, or demonstrates serious problems with coherence or progression of ideas
    • Displays very little facility in the use of language, using very limited vocabulary or incorrect word choice
    • Demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure
    • Contains errors in grammar, usage and mechanics so serious that meaning is somewhat obscured
    Score = 2 (Example 1)
  6. Score of 1

    An essay in this category demonstrates very little or no mastery, and is severely flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
    • Develops no viable point of view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to support its position
    • Is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or incoherent essay
    • Displays fundamental errors in vocabulary
    • Demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure
    • Contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that persistently interfere with meaning
    Score = 1 (Example 1)
  7. Score of 0

    Essays not written on the essay assignment will receive a score of zero

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