What is a Good SAT Score range?

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Written By Berry Mathew

Any SAT score ranging above the median or 50th percentile can typically be considered respectable because it indicates that you outperformed the majority of test-takers. 

However, the majority of selective universities will not accept scores below the 50th percentile. The requirement for a good SAT score rises drastically according to how competitive the applicant pool is. To achieve at least the 75th percentile, or 1200 or greater, is often preferable. 

Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing make up your two-section scores on the SAT, which has a range of 400 to 1600. (EBRW). A scale of 200–800 in 10-point increments is used for each part. 

A good score is 600 regarding the subjects Math or EBRW. 

Percentile rank can be used to compare your performance to that of other test-takers. See the following percentile charts to learn what a high SAT score is. Keep in mind that scores’ percentile rankings could vary slightly from year to year.

  • PERCENTILE
  • MATH Score
  • EBRW Score
  • Total Sat Score

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PERCENTILE MATH Score EBRW Score Total Sat Score
99+ 780-800 1560-1600
99 800 760-770 1520-1550
95 740-750 710 1430-1440
90 690 670-680 1350
85 660 650 1290
80 620-630 630 1240-1250
75 (good) 600 610 1200-1210
50 (median) 520 530 1040-1050

It depends upon who you are and what you want to do with your score, which is a simple and sometimes frustrating response.  

Any score you receive when taking the SAT for the first time as a junior is a good score because it teaches you about the academic subjects you need to improve. After that, you can work on improving those subjects and retake the SAT. A decent score for a senior enrolling in college depends on the school and what your other application states about you. 

 For instance, a good grade for a high school dropout can be different from a good grade for an A+ student. 

Sat Score Range: 

Your total SAT score falls within the 400-to-1600-point range. Your total score is the result of your performance on the math and evidence-based reading and writing (ERW) sections, each of which has a 200–800-point scale. 

The Sat score Ranges from 400 to 1600, which includes two major Subsections. The two Major Subsections have 800 points each. 

The SAT Math Test offers scores between 200 and 800, and all these points are split between two areas. The remaining 800 points come from the combined reading and writing section, with 400 points coming from each section. 

Mathematics: 

The Math part receives a score out of 800 with increments of 10 points. A range of 200-800 is possible because 200 is the minimum score. 

The Reading and Writing Section 

It may be difficult to comprehend this part. Starting at 10, 40 is the highest score possible in this situation. The range is 10 to 40. It is one point for increments. These results are then transformed into an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score using an Individualized Equating Process. Here, the scale is 200–800, which is the same as it was for the mathematics portion. 

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Optional Essay: 

The range of scores does not include essay scores. Reading, writing, and analysis make up the essay’s scoring criteria. The optional essay is scored between 2 and 8 points across the three separate sub-sectional scoring components. You can receive a maximum score of 8 | 8 | 8 for each of the three categories. 

Additionally, the SAT includes sub-scores and cross-test scores. The college needs to know if you have particular skill sets. As a result, the SAT offers them sub-scores and cross-test scores, which precisely reflect their level of subject-matter knowledge. Your score increases as you get better at something. 

THE EBRW SUBSCORES: 

  1. Expression of ideas 
  2. Standard English conventions 
  3. Words in Context 
  4. Command of Evidence 

MATH SUBSCORES:

    1. Heart of Algebra 
    2. Problem-Solving and Data Analysis 
  • Passport to Advanced Math 

Sat Score Range: What is The Good, The Bad, and the Average 

In 2020, the average SAT score was 1059, with scores ranging from 400 to 1600. Although there are four areas that students must complete on the exam, only two of them are scored: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. Evidence-based reading and writing scores range from 531 to 528 on average, with 528 being the average for math. 

99th Percentile: 1520 

It’s absurdly high. However, during the past few years, this elite cutoff has gradually increased from the 99th percentile, which was before closer to 1500. It just so happens that this closely matches the average score of applicants accepted to the majority of Ivy League universities, whether by coincidence or not.  

90th Percentile: 1350 

Better than 90% of pupils, this is still a very good score. But take note of the gap between 1380 and 1530. Although 150 points are significant, only 9% of test takers are distinguished by them. Most students would be competitive with this score at numerous top universities. 

75th Percentile: 1210 

Many people will likely respond with a number that is in the range when asked what a good score is. Even though it isn’t 1530, sitting at 1230 is still quite good because you are doing better than three out of every four students. With this kind of score, the majority of students will be competing for numerous prestigious state universities as well as numerous private colleges. Top-tier state universities, however, are rising past this threshold. 

 SAT Score Ranges and the accepted colleges’ Data 

Since target universities determine acceptable SAT scores, let’s examine what kinds of colleges have typical SAT scores in various ranges: 

1500+: The top universities in the world, include Harvard, Stanford, Cal Tech, MIT, and Princeton.

1400-1500: Top Ivy League schools, like UC Berkeley, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, UCLA, and Notre Dame.

1300-1400: A lot no of good private and public universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Florida, George Washington University, and Pepperdine.

1200-1300: The University of Colorado, the University of Arizona, and Texas A&M are just a few of the top state universities that fall within this likely most typical range. Additionally, there are a lot of top-notch private colleges in this price category, such as TCU and Syracuse.

1100-1200: A wide range of educational institutions, including prestigious state universities like the University of Missouri and Ole Miss and good second-tier institutions like the University of Illinois at Chicago and UC Riverside

Below 1100: There are a lot of universities in this category, including a ton of small private colleges and a ton of non-flagship state universities. Examples include Regis University, Illinois State University, the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, and Arkansas State University.

SAT SCORE DISTRIBUTION

The SAT’s median score is 1000 is taken as two sections other than the essay. This sums up the average scores of all SAT takers, according to a bell curve. Before 2016, there was a different range for the SAT, which resulted in a different median score. 

The test taker’s average grade has shifted to 1000, or statistically speaking, the majority of test takers’ scores tend to be in that range. (This does not imply that the result is precisely 1000.) The College Board provides a general idea of the percentiles as follows: 

Accordingly, if your SAT score is somewhere around 1500, you are among the top 1% of applicants.


Turito offers materials to assist students in getting ready for the SAT and achieving their desired range of scores.

  • Practice Tests
  • Video Lessons
  • Interactive Quizzes and Exercises: This can help students solidify their understanding of the key concepts and apply them to practice questions.
  • Score Analysis: Turito may offer a score analysis service where student’s test scores will be analyzed by experts and provide feedback on areas where students can improve. This can help student to stay on track and achieve the desired score rang