Relationship Between Operational SAT Essay Scores and College Performance - An Early Look at the Validity Evidence for the SAT Essay

Sep 14, 2026

This paper reports results from a small-scale validity study connecting operational SAT Essay scores with key college performance indicators. Data include more than 4,500 first-year students across 10 four-year institutions, measuring first-semester English and writing course grades as well as first-year grade point average (FYGPA). Findings indicate a positive relationship between the three SAT Essay score dimensions and both course grades and FYGPA. Results support institutions considering SAT Essay scores for admission, placement, or advising.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Introduction

The Importance of the SAT Essay

Methods

Institution Sample

Student Sample

Measures

Analyses

Results

First-Semester English and Writing GPA (EWGPA)

First-Year Grade Point Average (FYGPA)

Discussion

References

About the College Board

Appendix

Example of SAT Essay Prompt and Source Text

Relationship Between Operational SAT® Essay Scoresand College Performance An Early Look at the Validity Evidence for the SAT Essay Jessica P. Marini, associate research scientist at the College Board Emily J. Shaw, executive director at the College Board Linda Young, senior database statistician at the College Board Helen Ng, senior research analyst at the College Board 1 Executive Summary This paper presents the results of a small-scale validity study examining relationships between new SAT Essay scores and first-semester grades in English and writing courses, as well as first-year grade point average (FYGPA) in college. The sample includes more than 4,500 first-year students across 10 fouryear institutions. Results show that there is a positive relationship between the three SAT Essay score dimensions and both first-semester English and writing course grades and FYGPA. These findings provide support for institutions using or considering the use of SAT Essay scores for admission, placement, or advising. 2 Contents Introduction...............................................................................................................4 The Importance of the SAT Essay ............................................................................. 4 Getting to Know the SAT Essay ................................................................................ 4 Methods .....................................................................................................................6 Institution Sample ...................................................................................................... 6 Student Sample ......................................................................................................... 7 Measures ................................................................................................................... 8 Analyses .................................................................................................................... 9 Results.......................................................................................................................9 First-Semester English and Writing GPA (EWGPA) .................................................. 9 First-Year Grade Point Average (FYGPA) ............................................................... 13 Discussion ..............................................................................................................15 References ..............................................................................................................17 About the College Board........................................................................................18 Appendix .................................................................................................................19 Example of SAT Essay Prompt and Source Text .................................................... 19 Tables and Figures Table 1 : Institutional Characteristics .......................................................................... 6 Table 2: Student Characteristics................................................................................ 7 Figure 1 : Mean EWGPA by SAT Essay Reading Score .......................................... 10 Figure 2: Mean EWGPA by SAT Essay Analysis Score .......................................... 11 Figure 3 : Mean EWGPA by SAT Essay Writing Score ............................................ 12 Figure 4: Mean FYGPA by SAT Essay Reading Score ........................................... 13 Figure 5 : Mean FYGPA by SAT Essay Analysis Score ........................................... 14 Figure 6 : Mean FYGPA by SAT Essay Writing Score ............................................. 15 3 Introduction The Importance of the SAT Essay College professors, administrators, admission officers, and other higher education leaders expect students to arrive at

FAQs

What does the study examine about the SAT Essay?

The study examines relationships between operational SAT Essay scores and college performance, including first-semester course grades and first-year grade point average.

How large is the student sample and how is it distributed?

The sample includes more than 4,500 first-year students across 10 four-year institutions.

What do the results show regarding SAT Essay score dimensions?

The study finds a positive relationship between the three SAT Essay score dimensions and both first-semester English and writing course grades and FYGPA.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Ben Jamin