What Is a Good SAT Score?

Summary:

A good SAT score aligns with the middle 50% of test score ranges for admitted students at the target schools on your college list. According to the College Board, anything above the national average SAT score of 1050 can be considered “good,” but competitive applicants typically score 1350 or higher on the SAT with 1600 being the highest score possible. At Ivy League colleges like Harvard, students are expected to score near the top of the range, between 1500 and 1580. Students can achieve a higher SAT score by taking practice tests, improving skills that need work, and taking advantage of online test prep resources.

The SAT may have changed a lot in recent years, including going digital-only for international students in 2023 and for the U.S. in 2024. But one thing hasn’t changed ­— a good SAT score will help you gain acceptance into the schools on your college list, even if they’re test-optional. Of course, standardized test scores are just one component of a strong college application, but they help provide a more comprehensive picture of your college readiness. If you’re preparing to take the digital SAT, keep reading to learn more about how the score is broken down, what’s considered a good score, and what the score range is for the middle 50% of enrolled students at some of the top universities in the U.S.

How Is the SAT Score Broken Down?

The SAT consists of two sectional scores — one section tests math, and the other tests reading and writing. Each section has a score range of 200 to 800 points, which is the number of questions you answer correctly. The raw scores of the two sections are added together for your total score, which can range from 400 to 1600.

You will not have points deducted for incorrect answers, so it’s better to guess than leave questions blank.

The digital SAT test is adaptive. Each section is divided into two modules, and the student’s performance on module 1 determines the difficulty of the questions in module 2. The higher the difficulty of the questions, the higher the sectional scores and overall total score. Check out this SAT score breakdown to learn more about how the test is scored.

Understanding SAT Percentiles

Your SAT score doesn’t exist in a vacuum — what matters just as much as the number itself is how that score compares to everyone else who took the test. That’s where percentiles come in. A percentile rank tells you the percentage of test takers whose scores you scored equal to or higher than. For example, if you score in the 75th percentile, you performed as well as or better than 75% of all students who took the exam. The College Board calculates these percentiles using a nationally representative sample, so they reflect how you’d stack up against the broader pool of college-bound students across the country.

Percentiles are especially important when evaluating your competitiveness at specific schools. A 1400 might sound impressive in isolation, but its meaning shifts depending on context — at some universities, that score sits at the 95th percentile of admitted students, while at highly selective and Ivy League schools, it may fall below the 25th percentile of their incoming class. Most colleges publish the middle 50% range (25th to 75th percentile) of admitted students’ SAT scores, and this is your most practical benchmarking tool. If your score falls above the 75th percentile for a given school, you’re in strong shape academically; if it falls below the 25th percentile, that school may be a reach worth reconsidering. Understanding percentiles shifts your mindset from chasing an abstract “good score” to strategically targeting schools where your numbers genuinely work in your favor.

What Is the Passing Score for the SАТ?

While there is no “passing” score for the SAT, students will receive benchmark values as part of their score. These benchmarks indicate the student’s college and career readiness. Each section of the SAT has its own benchmark, which is based on the success of students in entry-level college courses and represents increasing levels of achievement from eighth through 12th grade.

• SAT Math: Students who score a 530 or higher on this section have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in entry-level college math courses.
• SAT Reading and Writing: Students who score a 480 or higher on this section have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in entry-level college courses in literature, writing, social sciences, or history.

Students who don’t meet these benchmarks may still reach their academic potential in college with additional practice and preparation.

What Is a Good SAT Score Overall?

You can define a good SAT score as one that helps you gain admission into the target schools on your college list — and your safety schools as well. Generally, this score will align with the middle 50% of test score ranges for admitted students.

You can set a score goal after you research and choose the range of colleges for your list that meet your criteria. Then check the standardized test score data for admitted students at each school to determine your target score for admission. You can find this information in the school’s Common Data Set (CDS).

Good SAT Score Range for Colleges

The most strategic way to evaluate your score is to research the middle 50% SAT ranges published by each school on your list. You can find this information in the school’s Common Data Set. If your score falls within or above that range, your academics are likely to be viewed favorably by admissions officers.

What Is an Above Average SAT Score?

Since the average SAT score is 1050, according to the College Board, an above-average score is anything that exceeds 1050. Scoring 1350 or higher will put you in the top 10% of test takers and increase your competitiveness at more selective colleges.

However, colleges will also review your sectional scores, which can lead to some confusion. For example, what happens if you take the SAT twice and score higher on the Math section the first time and higher on the Reading and Writing section the second time? Answering this question requires an understanding of score-use policies:

• Superscore: Colleges that superscore the SAT accept your highest score from each section, even if they come from different tests. Many top U.S. colleges employ this policy.
• Score Choice: This option allows you to choose which scores or sets of scores to send to a college, giving you control over which test scores are reviewed by the admissions committee. It’s important to understand which schools do not honor score choice before applying.
• Highest Total Score: Some colleges will review your highest total score regardless of test data.
• All Scores Required: Schools with this policy require applicants to submit scores from every SAT test, reviewing the highest scores in each section and looking for signs of improvement between test dates.

Many colleges and universities currently have test-optional admissions policies in place, though more schools are reinstating their standardized testing requirements. Be sure to check the testing policies of schools on your best-fit list.

If you’re applying to a test-optional school and aren’t satisfied with your SAT scoring, you can focus on making the other parts of your application as strong as possible. Learn more about test-optional admissions and SAT prep on the IvyWise podcast.

What Is a Good SAT Score for Popular Colleges in the U.S.?

Wondering what SAT score will help you get into some Ivy League and popular colleges in the U.S.? This table includes the middle 50% SAT score ranges for class of 2028 students enrolled at some top U.S. universities, as reported in each school’s Common Data Set.

 How to Achieve a High SАТ Score

To achieve a high SAT score, you can take practice tests under timed conditions, use your practice test results to determine which skills need work and schedule time to improve them, and take advantage of online test prep resources and SAT tutoring to help you prepare and practice.

Specifically, you can follow these steps taken from the SAT test prep tips:

• Take at least three or four practice tests under timed conditions. These are similar to the real test, and the practice time will help you learn the pacing. Practice will result in higher real scores!
• Use your practice test results to determine which skills need work, and schedule time each day to work on improving these skills.
• Take advantage of online SAT test prep resources that offer practice questions and answer explanations. Many of these resources are free.

Even if you achieve competitive scores on your SAT, it’s still important to focus on the other factors that admissions committees are looking for, including relevant extracurricular activities and a strong application essay. The college admissions process can be daunting, but preparation and hard work can help you get into your dream school.

Check out these college prep resources you can use to prepare for college throughout high school. And if you need help preparing for standardized tests or any other aspect of your college prep, we’re here to help.

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September 2023 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.