What is a Good SAT Score?

SAT

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Oct 22, 2024 15:20 IST

Are you planning to take the SAT exam in 2024 to get into your preferred school? Then you must be wondering what a good SAT Score is. While some universities may disclose cutoffs, some may assess based on the competitive level of applicants. But ideally, there is always a good SAT score which is considered for admission. Check out what is a good SAT score and how to go about it.

What is a Good SAT Score?

SAT or Scholastic Assessment Test is required to get into colleges and universities worldwide. Globally, colleges and universities accept SAT scores for giving admission to college applicants. The SAT Exam is conducted by the College Board.  In this article, we will answer this query. What a good SAT Score is not only a grave concern of students but parents as well.

How the Digital SAT is scored?

Before starting with SAT preparation, students should know when they should actually start studying for the SAT Exam. We need to understand the SAT score range for determining a good SAT score.

The SAT exam is divided into two sections - 1. Reading & Writing, and 2.Mathematics. These two sections are scored on a 200-800 point scale, for a maximum score of 1600 i.e. total score.

According to the College Board, the average SAT score for 2021 – 2022 was 1200. So, anything above 1200 can be considered a good SAT score. The maximum anyone can score on the SAT is the perfect score of 1600. As candidates receive scaled scores, they should know about SAT scaled scores and percentiles.

Check: SAT Exam Syllabus

What is a Good SAT Score?

A good SAT score aids an applicant in his/her admission to the college of choice. Be it meeting the SAT cutoff (minimum requirements mentioned on the university website) or scoring above other competing applicants is any day a good SAT score for an applicant. So how are SAT scores considered good or bad? Check out the section below: 

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  • The average SAT score is 1050 (approximately as per Collge Board). So any SAT score above 1050 would be considered as an above average score.
  • A SAT score of 1350 would put the applicants in the top 10% of test takers and help them make their admission applications even more competitive at more selective schools.
  • A good SAT score falling in the category of 90th percentile and above is anyway a good score.

SAT Score Percentiles

When talking about a good SAT score, there is always mention of the percentiles. The percentiles based on SAT scores correspond to a comparative study, which shows how an applicant performed in comparison to the other one. So once applicants get their SAT scores, to understand if they are at par or not, they must consider percentile scores as well. Check out the table below to understand how SAT scores correspond to percentile scores:








SAT Exam Scores

Percentile Score

1570-1600

99+

1530-1560

99

1430-1440

95

1350-1360

90

1290

85

1240

80

1200

75 (good)

1030

50 (median)

Percentile scores would help applicants understand how they performed and if their SAT score is good or not for admissions abroad. 

What is a Good SAT Score for College Admissions?

There are different tiered universities, each accepting a different set of SAT scores, check out below which type of university accepts how much SAT score:







  • A score of 1400 or more on the SAT for Ivy League colleges can be considered good.
  • For a mid-level university, anywhere between 1200 - 1400 can be considered as good.
  • And for those who want to attend a community college, a score of 1000 – 1200 can also work.

As College Board, themselves have clarified that a good SAT score is not a guarantee for admission to a good college or university. Your complete application should match complete college requirements like your overall profile, admission essays, GPA, etc.

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Good SAT Scores for 20 Popular US Colleges

The following is a list of top US universities accepting SAT scores for undergraduate admissions for the year 2022-23:

US Universities Accepting SAT Scores Average Composite SAT Score Competitive Level
Princeton University 1518 Extremely Competitive
Harvard University 1580 Extremely Competitive
Columbia University 1524 Extremely Competitive
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1543 Extremely Competitive
Yale University 1530 Extremely Competitive
Stanford University 1520 Extremely Competitive
University of Chicago 1545 Extremely Competitive
University of Pennsylvania 1525 Extremely Competitive
California Institute of Technology 1555 Extremely Competitive
Johns Hopkins University 1515 Highly Competitive
Northwestern University 1520 Highly Competitive
Duke University 1505 Highly Competitive
Dartmouth College 1500 Highly Competitive
Brown University 1515 Highly Competitive
Vanderbilt University 1525 Highly Competitive
Rice University 1530 Highly Competitive
Washington University 1530 Highly Competitive
Cornell University 1505 Highly Competitive
University of Notre Dame 1480 Highly Competitive
University of California, Los Angeles 1405 Highly Competitive

Since a lot of US universities choose to be test-optional it may or may not be mandatory for international students to submit an SAT score while applying for undergraduate admissions. Students must check the minimum SAT cut-off if applicable and prepare for SAT exam accordingly.  

How to improve SAT Scores?

Even if you are not scoring up to your expectations, there is always a scope for betterment. You can sit for SAT exam again, but only if you have enough time between applying for SAT exam again and applying to your desired university. Check the SAT exam dates and then register for SAT and appear for the test if required. You can take SAT multiple times in a given year. Check out the following tips as to how to score well on SAT exam: 

1. Focus and Practice More:

Candidates can start taking SAT Practice Tests: Tips and Resources formulate essential SAT Tips and Strategies and make an appropriate study plan which they can follow and improve their scores.

2. Give SAT again:

Generally, candidates who attempt the SAT exam a second or third time score high on their previous tests. If you prepare well, you can improve your scores exceptionally well. Apart from making a perfect study plan, go for the Best books and resources for SAT and prepare systematically.

What is a good SAT Score also depends on the target college to which the candidate wants to go. Good SAT Score for applicants depend on their targeted schools!

Thus, we can conclude by saying that there is no good SAT score, rather SAT scores depend on the university's admission criteria if at all they provide SAT cutoffs or a range of scores to fall back on. Students must check out the university requirements and plan accordingly based on their key areas of strengths and weaknesses and then prepare for SAT. In case the choice of university accepts both ACT and SAT, then applicants can have a look at this article too for more details - SAT vs ACT: Which Test is Easier and How to Choose the Right Test?

Have more queries? Write to us in the comments below or sign up for free counselling for abroad university admissions at - https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply

Q:   Is SAT easy for Indian students?

A:

For Indian students SAT may or may not be difficult, totally depends on the applicant and his or her preparation. Since SAT exam is designed for high school students based on their previous knowledge it shouldn't be difficult for Indian students on the whole. There may be a difference in subject combinations in senior secondary school level which may directly affect the student's performance in SAT, for example those who opted for non-Maths subjects may be disadvantaged for the Maths section. Thus, the base is the same for SAT exam sections for Indian students based on their high school. So, they would not have a lot have major difficulties in preparing for the exam.

Q:   Can Indian students prepare SAT exam syllabus at home without tuitions?

A:

Yes, it is possible to prepare for SAT syllabus at home nd without any tuitions. Since SAT syllabus is huge, there's a lot of SAT prep material available online through which you can study and prepare on your own. However, this is not everyone's cup of tea, so, it is better to understand the SAT format and then decide whether you need coaching to clear SAT or not. Tips to prepare for SAT syllabus at home are as follows:

  • Be thorough with the SAT syllabus
  • Work on your grammar
  • Start reading non-fiction apart from the school text
  • Work on your vocabulary
  • Work on mental math
  • Practice and practice 
  • Understand your weak points and work on them
  • Attempt mocks

Q:   What is a SAT score?

A:
When you apply to universities in USA, they ask the score of a standardized test called SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). The new SAT pattern has total of 1600 instead of 2400 earlier. The highest composite score for the redesigned SAT is 800+800, or 1600. Your section scores are the individual scores for the two main sections of the SAT: reading/writing and math. Each of these sections is scored out of 800, and they are added together to get your overall score.

Q:   How many hours would require to cover SAT syllabus?

A:

Check when you are going to take the SAT test. The SAT syllabus is vast hence it cannot be covered in a couple of hours. If you have a good amount of time say six months then you need to give fewer hours daily, on the other hand, if you have less amount of time for SAT test then you need to study more hours. Go through the SAT syllabus and understand how much it will take you to cover each and every topic and prepare a study plan accordingly. Thus, this completely depends on the applicant and how he/she wishes to cover the SAT exam syllabus.

Q:   How many times can you take the SAT exam?

A:

As in the case of the SAT, there are no restrictions set by the College Board, students can take the SAT exam as many times as they want. SAT is administered seven times a year in India. The test is usually conducted in March, May, June, August, October, November and December.

However, it is recommended that applicants appear for SAT twice - in Spring and one before Fall. This is because the highest SAT scores among the two will be considered by universities for admission. Since in a lot of cases, SAT scores improve in the second time, it is recommended to take the SAT exam twice. 

Q:   How difficult is the SAT?

A:

The difficulty level of SAT depends on the student's preparation and background of academia. Though SAT exam is designed based on student's high school knowledge hence, those who have prepared well keeping the syllabus in mind and with ample practice may find the SAT exam easy. The level of SAT difficulty may vary person to person and ofcourse based on the level of understanding and preparation also. While a million students appear for SAT exam, only 25,000 get through it.

Q:   How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?

A:

The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses: 

The Undergraduate Application Process:  

Step 1:  You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.

Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.

Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.

Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements. 

Check out:  tips to improve your SOP

Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS. 

Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.

Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.

The Postgraduate application process: 

Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\

Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.

Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.

Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course. 

To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application. 

Step 5:  If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester. 

Q:   Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?

A:

The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.

About the Author
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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert

Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio

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