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Pepperdine | Seaver College

New SAT Policy

Test Optional

Pepperdine is test optional from Fall 2021 to Fall 2023. Although we do not require test scores, you have the option to submit either official test scores through the testing agency or self reported test scores through our test score form. Once your application has been processed, you will receive access to the Pepperdine Applicant Portal where you can access the test score form. If test scores are self-reported at the time of application, official test scores will be required upon admission to Pepperdine. Please note that self-reported test scores will only be accepted through Pepperdine's test score form. Test scores reported on the Common Application or transcripts will not be accepted.


If you choose to submit test scores, applicants must take the SAT I or ACT by October in order to meet the November 1 early action deadline or by December in order to meet the January 15 application deadline. The optional ACT writing test and SAT writing/essay section are neither required nor recommended. The SAT II Subject Tests are also not required.

Reviewing Test Scores

Superscoring 

The Office of Admission will superscore the old and new SAT separately, meaning our office will combine the highest section scores from each test date to create the highest total per test. However, we will not combine old and new SAT section scores, as these two tests are scaled differently. It is therefore to your advantage to send our office the results from each time you took the SAT. We also superscore the ACT.

Concording Scores

When evaluating applications, our Admission Counselors will only consider an applicant's highest test scores. Our office will use the concordance chart below to determine your highest composite score across all three tests - old SAT (superscore), new SAT (superscore), and ACT (superscore). We will convert your new SAT scores based on the 1600 point total (and not by converting individual section scores). For old SAT scores, our office will only consider your 1600 point total (Critical Reading and Math).

Admitted Student Averages

Using College Board's concordance table to convert the 1600 point SAT averages from last year, we estimate that the mid-50% score range of admitted students for Fall 2016 would be 1260-1420 on the new SAT. The average SAT score of Fall 2016 admitted students would be 1330 on the New SAT.

Please note that these are projections based on data from the old SAT, and the new SAT score ranges and averages for the Fall 2017 class may significantly differ. 

Concordance Chart

Old SAT CR+M (Score Range) New SAT Total (Score Range)  ACT Composite Score Old SAT CR+M (Single Score) New SAT Total (Single Score)
1600 1600
36
1600  1600 
1540–1590 1560-1590
35
1560  1570 
1490–1530 1520-1550
34
1510 1540
1440–1480
1490-1510
33 1460 1500 
1400–1430 1450-1480 32 1420  1470 
1360–1390 1420-1440 31 1380 1430 
1330–1350 1390-1410 30  1340  1400 
1290–1320 1350-1380 29 1300 1360 
1250–1280 1310-1340  28 1260  1320 
1210–1240 1280-1300 27 1220  1290 
1170–1200 1240-1270 26 1190  1260
1130–1160 1200-1230  25 1150 1220 
1090–1120 1160-1190 24 1110 1180 
1050–1080 1130-1150 23 1070  1140 
1020–1040 1100-1120 22 1030  1110
980–1010 1060-1090  21 990  1070 
940–970 1020-1050 20 950 1030 
900–930 980-1010 19 910 990 
860–890 940-970  18 870  950 
820–850 900-930 17  830  910 
770–810 860-890 16  790  870 
720–760 810-850  15  740 830 
670–710 760-800  14  690  780 
620–660 720-750  13  640  740 
560–610 630-710  12  590  680 
510–550 560-620  11  530  590 

 * All data in the above chart based on concordance information provided by College Board. 

Helpful Links for the New SAT

General Information about the New SAT

Differences Between the Old and New SAT

SAT Score Converter

ACT Website

College Board Website