What Is a Good SAT Score?
Short answer: your SAT score is “good” when it puts you in or above the middle of the range at the colleges you actually want. A number that is great for one list can be a stretch for another, so the most useful thing you can do is check your score against your list, not against a friend.
That said, it helps to know where scores sit nationally. About half of recent SAT takers scored 1020 or lower, so anything above that is above the middle. Here is the rough map.
Where common SAT scores rank
| Total | Share of SAT takers at or below | Rough read | ACT match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | 97% | Top tier: in range almost everywhere | 34 |
| 1400 | 93% | Strong: fits many selective colleges | 31 |
| 1300 | 85% | Solid: above most test takers | 28 |
| 1200 | 75% | Good: comfortably above the middle | 25 |
| 1100 | 62% | Above the middle | 22 |
| 1020 | 50% | Right in the middle | 19 |
| 900 | 32% | Below the middle: room to grow | 16 |
Percent column: College Board “user group” percentiles (students who actually took the SAT in recent years). ACT column: official 2018 concordance. The “rough read” is our plain-English summary, not an official label.
A 3-step check for your own target
- Write down five to eight colleges. Mix a few reaches, a few that feel likely, and a couple you are almost sure of.
- Find each one’s middle-50% SAT range. It is usually on the college’s admissions or “class profile” page, or in its Common Data Set (section C9). The lower number is the 25th percentile of admitted students; the upper number is the 75th.
- Set your target near the upper number for your reach schools. If you are already at or above the 75th percentile for most of your list, your score is doing its job. Your time is better spent on grades, essays and activities.
Many colleges are test-optional. If your score is below a college’s middle range, it can be smarter not to send it there. Check each college’s policy; a few have gone back to requiring scores.
Should you retake?
A retake is usually worth it when two things are true: your score is below the middle range for colleges you care about, and you have a few weeks to study something specific. Retaking with no new prep tends to give you about the same score, since scores naturally wobble a little from one sitting to the next.
Many colleges superscore, which means they take your best Reading and Writing and your best Math across test dates. If yours do, a retake has little downside: a weaker sitting won’t pull your best sections down.
What to study next, by score
- Below 1000: fundamentals first. On Math, linear equations and percent problems show up a lot; on Reading and Writing, punctuation rules and finding the main idea. Our SAT Math and Reading and Writing clinics start there.
- 1000 to 1250: find your weaker section and give it most of your time. Gains here usually come from fixing two or three repeat mistakes, not from learning everything.
- 1250 to 1400: the harder second module. Practice the tougher question types and watch your pace so you have time for them.
- Above 1400: careless errors and the few hardest questions. Review questions you got right by guessing, too.
At any level, start with a full Bluebook practice test so you study from real data. Then try our free original SAT practice questions and build a week-by-week study plan.
Questions
What is the average SAT score?
Among recent SAT takers, a total of 1020 sits at the 50th percentile, so the middle of the pack is right around 1000 to 1050.
Is a 1200 a good SAT score?
A 1200 is at the 75th percentile of recent test takers, which is comfortably above the middle. It fits the typical range at many public universities. For more selective colleges, check their middle-50% ranges.
What SAT score do I need for a scholarship?
There is no single cutoff. Some colleges and states tie merit aid to a minimum score, and the number varies widely. Look on each college's financial aid page for the exact figure.
Does a good SAT score guarantee admission?
No. Colleges look at grades, the courses you took, essays and activities. A strong score helps, but it never decides admission on its own.
For additional information, visit College Board’s SAT percentiles and ACT’s ACT/SAT concordance.
Scores, tables and percentiles are for general information, may change, and do not predict a test-day score or an admission decision. Provided as is, with no warranty; check the official source before you rely on them.