When students ask, “What Is A Good SAT Score?”, the answer depends on how your total SAT score compares to others and your target schools. From my research on SAT scores, most students score approximately 1024 on the SAT. However, colleges accept a wide range of scores.
Achieving a good SAT score is more important than ever to meet admissions expectations and scholarship criteria.
This guide clarifies how good, above-average, and perfect SAT scores fit into real admissions and merit frameworks, and offers insight from real test-takers and practice tests.
Key Takeaways
- Total SAT Score Range: runs from 400 to 1600, with each section scored 200–800.
- Average SAT Score: around 1024, so a score higher than that is considered an above-average score.
- Good SAT Score: for many selective schools is 1300–1400, placing a student near the 75th percentile or higher.
- Perfect SAT Score: 1600, which places nearly all students at the top percentile.
Pro Tip: Understanding percentiles helps you compare your score with that of other test takers and gauge where your score ranks.
SAT Scores Based on Target Schools
What counts as a strong SAT score varies by college:
- Ivy League applicants generally submit scores between 1450 and 1600
- Competitive state universities often admit students scoring in the 1300–1400 range
- A high SAT score can still improve your chances at a test-optional school
A Closer Look at Section Scores and Range
The SAT has two main section scores, the Reading and Writing section and the Math section, each of which ranges from 200 to 800.
Percentile rankings differ by section and overall score, helping pinpoint strengths. Section-level percentiles let students know where they outperform other test takers.
Good Score Versus Low SAT Score
There’s no fixed minimum score across all colleges, but patterns indicate:
- A low SAT score is any score below or near the national average.
- A below-average score often hinders admission to competitive schools.
Even so, many institutions admit students across a broad range of SAT scores, depending on their GPA, essays, and supplemental materials.
Your score range and percentile placement reveal if your performance is above average or below expectations.
Pro Tip: Use solid SAT prep courses and practice tests to spot weak areas fast.
How Practice Tests And Score Improvement Help
Effective SAT prep involves repeated practice tests using SAT prep materials. These allow:
- Comparison of your raw score (questions answered correctly) to scaled total and section scores
- Use of percentile rankings to see how your test-taker cohort compares
- Tracking how well you stack up against other test takers, and aiming for a specific target SAT score
Focusing on sections where your percentile is lowest helps raise overall performance and shift your composite score toward the 75th percentile or higher. Some of the top SAT prep providers include, in order, UWorld SAT, PrepScholar, and PrepExpert.
Why Percentiles Matter More Than Raw Score Alone
Percentiles rank your performance relative to all test takers.
- A 1350 SAT score places you in the top 11 percent, indicating that 90 percent of students scored lower.
- A 1200 SAT score falls near the 75th percentile nationally, indicating an above-average SAT score but one that is still below the elite threshold.
Your goal should be to increase your percentile rank, not just chase raw score gains. Colleges review how many students submitted higher scores within their applicant pool. The percentile perspective provides real context in a school’s average range.
Should You Retake the SAT?
If your SAT total score is below your target score or your school’s average range, it may be worth retaking the test. A second attempt often leads to a higher SAT score.
Retaking the SAT could make sense if:
- Your actual score was lower than your practice test results
- You had timing issues or left some of the SAT questions unanswered
- Your target schools report average scores significantly higher than yours
- You plan to follow a structured SAT prep plan to improve your low SAT score
Students can take the SAT as many times as they choose. Colleges usually consider your highest SAT score. Some schools also participate in Score Choice, which allows you to submit only your best test scores. Always check each school’s policy on score submission before deciding whether to retake the exam.
Conclusion
A good SAT score depends on your personal academic goals: above 1024 is above average, 1300–1350 lands in the top quarter, and 1500+enters elite territory. A perfect score of 1600 is rare but ideal for most applicants to Ivy League schools. Compare your total SAT score and section scores to national percentiles and the score range of your target schools.
In the end, a good SAT score supports your admission to a school that fits your goals. Even if your score falls below a college’s average, it’s still worth applying. Admissions decisions consider your complete application, including GPA, essays, and activities, not just your test scores.
Ultimately, a strategic mix of preparation, focusing on weak areas, and understanding score context will help you submit a score that represents your potential and bring you closer to your dream school.
FAQs
A score above 1300 places you in the top 25 percent nationally. A score near 1500 or above is competitive at Ivy League and selective colleges.
The national average SAT score is 1024.
A perfect total SAT score is 1600, with each section at 800.
Percentiles show how your score compares. Scoring in the 75th percentile means you outperformed 75 percent of test takers.
Colleges view both section scores and the total score. A strong performance in one section can help compensate for a weaker score in the other, but achieving a balanced high performance is ideal.
