What is a good SAT score?

What is a good score on the SAT test? The answer will be ‘the one that is appropriate for the educational institutions of your choice.’ Sure, the higher your score is, the better it is for you. However, it is always pleasant to know which minimum result guarantees your entry.

Your SAT Scores vs the National Average Scores

The SAT score range is 400 (minimum) – 1600 (maximum). One of the section scores is Math, and the rest is a combined Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score. Keep in mind that you will get scores for two blocks: Math and Writing, together with Evidence-Based Reading, are calculated separately.

As for the general average score that is appropriate for entering the institution, it is 1059. On the one hand, you can get 528 for the Math section. On the other hand, you can get 531 for reading and writing.

Note that the test’s score corresponds to a specific ranking system – the percentile ranking. How does it work? Knowing your score, you know how many students have the same result as you do. For you, it is an excellent way to weigh odds and decide on whether your results are good SAT scores.

Your SAT Scores vs Typical Scores at Target Schools

Good new SAT scores can help you to become a part of the university or college you are dreaming about. However, what are good SAT scores for you specifically? First and foremost, find out the requirements of the desired institution. There might be some differences as to the scoring between the colleges of diverse states.

Note that your task is to perform well at a local level; how you perform at the national level is less important. So, focus on your target schools and the scoring margins they offer. The thing is that these results may even exceed the ones defined on a national level. So, you are likely to have this warm feeling that you did even more than you could.

If you are eager to join one of the top 100 most selective colleges, you need to work harder. The point is that you will need higher than average scores. In practice, it merely means you will have to prepare better. The minimum you must have to enter the desired institution is 1200 and more.

Test coming up? Stop cramming!

Ask a personal tutor for help to be at your best for a test!

Get Help Right Now

How is the SAT Scored? General rules

If you feel like you haven't prepared enough for the SAT, don't worry - there are many resources available to help you get ready. You can take SAT prep courses, work with a private tutor, or even use online resources such as Khan Academy. However, if you still struggle with the test, you can always consider taking it again to improve your score.

In conclusion, while your SAT score is an important factor in the college admission process, it is not the only one. Admissions officers will consider many other factors, such as your GPA, extracurricular activities, and essays. So, don't stress too much about your SAT score and focus on doing your best overall. And, if you need any help along the way, Studyfy is always here for you with their professional sociology essay writing services, custom research paper service, and more.

Explore what is a Good SAT Score within this Chart

What is a good SAT score? Trying to figure out your SAT score goals for 2020, look at the SAT averages for the schools where you are applying to. There is a great official resource: the College Board where you can search for colleges according to the average test scores.

The SAT test is based on a 1600-point scale (2 sections:Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing—scored between 200 and 800). That scores are converted to scaled scores, for determining percentile ranks. The percentile ranks shows how well is your result compared to all other test takers (Ex.: if you score in the 75th percentile, your result is better than the results of 75% of all test takers).

What is the best SAT score?

About 10% of the best results among all test takers are within:

 

Scores

Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing

670 – 800

Math

690 – 800

What is the competitive SAT scores?

About 25% of the best results among all test takers are within:

 

Scores

Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing

610 – 660

Math

600 – 680

What is a good SAT scores?

About 50% of the best results among all test takers are within:

 

Scores

Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing

540 – 600

Math

530 – 590

What is a bad SAT scores?

The SAT scores seem to be bad when they are below average compared to all test takers. But, usually, it is enough for getting into a wide variety of college programs:

 

Scores

Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing

530 and lower

Math

520 and lower

SAT Score Ranges for Popular Colleges and Universities(2021)

SAT Score Ranges(January 11, 2021)

Here are what was a good SAT Scores for the Popular Schools including Ivy League and Liberal Arts Colleges(2019) for comparison

The table below will give you a sense of the types of scores that you need to get according to the school.

 

Reading 25%

Reading 75%

Math 25%

Math 75%

Harvard University

720

780

740

800

Duke University

710

770

740

800

Stanford University

700

770

720

800

Columbia University

710

760

740

800

University of Pennsylvania

690

760

730

790

Swarthmore College

680

760

700

790

Williams College

710

760

700

790

Pomona College

700

760

700

780

Carnegie Mellon University

700

750

750

800

Cornell University

680

750

710

790

Northeastern University

670

750

690

790

Georgia Tech

680

750

710

790

Amherst College

660

750

670

780

Carleton College

670

750

680

780

Grinnell College

670

745

700

785

University of Southern California

660

740

690

790

UC Berkeley

650

740

670

790

Wellesley College

670

740

660

780

UCLA

650

740

640

780

Oberlin College

650

740

630

750

Emory University

660

730

690

790

University of Michigan

660

730

670

780

University of Virginia

660

730

670

770

UNC Chapel Hill

630

720

640

760

Whitman College

610

710

620

740

University of Florida

640

710

640

730

University of Wisconsin

630

700

650

750

Lafayette College

620

700

630

735

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

600

690

600

770

The Ohio State University

590

690

650

760

Clemson University

610

690

610

710