Scaled Score Calculator
A raw mark converted onto a test's reporting scale by straight-line scaling, with the raw marks needed for a target score and the margin above or below it.
Many tests report on a scale — 200 to 800, 1 to 36, 100 to 300 — rather than as marks.
How the scaled score calculator works
Many tests report on a scale — 200 to 800, 1 to 36, 100 to 300 — rather than as marks. The simplest conversion is a straight line: the share of raw marks earned, applied across the width of the scale. This calculator does that, and reads it backwards to find the raw marks a target score needs.
Real tests usually equate rather than scale linearly, adjusting for the difficulty of each form, so the official table will differ near the ends. Treat this as an estimate.
Formula: scaled = min + (raw ÷ max raw) × (max − min); raw for target = ⌈(target − min) ÷ (max − min) × max raw⌉
Worked examples
| Inputs | Scaled score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Three quarters right | 650 | 75% of the way from 200 to 800 |
| A 1-to-36 scale | 31 | 86.7% of 35 above 1 |
| Short of the target | 440 | 440, six raw marks short |
FAQFrequently asked questions
Why does my official score differ from this?
Because testing bodies equate rather than scale: each form of a test is adjusted so that a score means the same thing whatever the form's difficulty. That bends the conversion, most visibly near the top and bottom of the scale. The straight line here is the shape of the conversion, not the published table.
What is a scaled score for?
To make scores comparable across forms and years. Raw marks depend on which questions were asked; a scaled score is meant to depend only on ability, which is why admissions and licensing bodies report on scales.
How do I find the raw marks a target needs?
Enter the target and read the raw-marks row: the target's position on the scale, applied to the marks available, rounded up. With sixty marks and a 200–800 scale, a 500 needs thirty.
Does a wrong answer cost marks?
On most modern tests, no — only correct answers count. Where a test does penalize guessing, the raw mark to enter is the net mark after the penalty, which the test's own rules define.
Where these figures come from
- Brysbaert (2019), Journal of Memory and Language — How many words do we read per minute? — the 238 wpm silent reading rate, from 190 studies
- US Department of Education — the federal education department
Last checked: September 2026. Reading and writing rates are from published meta-analyses, cited on the page.