What is a Good SAT Score in 2024? How much you need to score?

When you’re hitting the books in high school, part of your preparation will include getting ready for the SAT. The College Board administers the Scholastic Aptitude Test several times a year, and just about every college undergraduate program will look for your SAT score as part of the college admissions process. In fact, it’s so popular that the majority of universities will actually require you to get your SAT score first before you’re even qualified to apply.

The college admission panels will then use your SAT score to determine if you have what it takes to be part of their incoming freshman class. Your SAT score will also influence the amount of financial aid you get.

The SAT tests your readiness for the academic rigors of college. Score low here, and you’re telling the college admission folks that you’re not just ready for college just yet.

How Is the SAT Scored?

Before you aim for a particular SAT score, you need to know how the SAT scoring system works. This scoring system recently changed in 2016, so be careful when you’re reading other articles regarding the SAT scoring. You may be getting outdated information.

Your total SAT score can range from 400 to 1600 (a perfect score). You can score anywhere from 200 to 800 on each of the two sections: EWR (Evidence-based Reading and Writing) and Math. These are your “scaled” scores, after converting the raw scores on the test.

The conversion of the raw scores into the scaled scores help in keeping the scores fair. Each version of the test may differ depending on the day you take it, but you won’t get any particular advantage on a day the test is “easier”. Your raw scores are compared and adjusted to the scores of the other students taking the test.

Subscore

When you get your SAT score report, you actually get a lot more detail than just your ERW and Math scores and your total score. You’ll also get your score (ranging from 10 to 40) for Reading, Writing and Language, and Math.

You then also have two Cross-Test scores, which will be based on selected questions in the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math sections. These scores are for Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science. These scores give admissions officers a better idea of your ability to analyze texts and solve problems that are related to the History/Social Studies and Science topics. Again, you get 2 scores here ranging from 10 to 40 points for each.

Then you have the SAT subscores, which range from 1 to 15 points for each subsection:

ERW (4 Sections)

Command of Evidence. The questions for this section require you to find the parts of the text that prove, support, or are related to another idea or question.
Words in Context. This is part of the Reading section, and you’re required to interpret how the meanings of certain words can change, depending on the context of the passage the words are in.
Expression of Ideas. You’re required to improve the text, based on cohesion, logic, accuracy, topic development, and general use of the English language.
Standard English Conventions. This checks your skills as related to sentence structure, grammar, and proper punctuation.

Math (3 Subsections)

Heart of Algebra. These questions test how you solve and create linear equations and inequalities using variables.
Problem Solving and Data Analysis. These questions check how you use your math skills to solve real-world problems. These questions may require you to use rates, proportions, ratios, and different units.
Passport to Advanced Math. These questions evaluate your readiness for college-level math. They measure how you understand and analyze the structure of expressions, and how you manipulate and rewrite the same expressions.

Essay

There’s also an essay portion of the SAT, but this is an optional section. The scoring is subjective, with 2 different people awarding points (1 to 4 points) for each dimension of the essay portion. You’re then given points on how well you understood the essay prompt (including the particular details and the overall theme), how well you use evidence and provide arguments to support your ideas, and your skill in using the English language to create a cohesive essay.

Each scorer can therefore give you a score of 1-1-1 up to 4-4-4. These points are then added, so that you can get up to a perfect score of 8-8-8.

What are the average scores by school?

We all know that certain schools are much more selective in their admissions process. It’s not surprising that the average SAT scores for the students in schools such as Harvard are higher than the average SAT scores in lower-ranked schools.

Here are several colleges and universities, and the SAT range of their students. We’ve noted both the 25^th and the 75^th percentile, to give you a broad idea of what SAT scores are needed.

Average 25^th%ile and 75^th%ile SAT Scores for Reading and Math

School	Reading, 25^th %	Reading, 75^th %	Math, 25^th %	Math, 75^th %
Amherst College	660	750	670	780
Carleton College	670	750	680	780
Carnegie Mellon University	700	750	750	800
Clemson University	610	690	610	710
Columbia University	710	760	740	800
Cornell University	680	750	710	790
Duke University	710	770	740	800
Emory University	660	730	690	790
Georgia Tech	680	750	710	790
Grinnell College	670	745	700	785
Harvard University	720	780	740	800
Lafayette College	620	700	630	735
Northeastern University	670	750	690	790
Oberlin College	650	740	630	750
Pomona College	700	760	700	780
Stanford University	700	770	720	800
Swarthmore College	680	760	700	790
The Ohio State University	590	690	650	760
UC Berkeley	650	740	670	790
UCLA	650	740	640	780
UNC Chapel Hill	630	720	640	760
University of Florida	640	710	640	730
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign	600	690	600	770
University of Michigan	660	730	670	780
University of Pennsylvania	690	760	730	790
University of Southern California	660	740	690	790
University of Virginia	660	730	670	770
University of Wisconsin	630	700	650	750
Wellesley College	670	740	660	780
Whitman College	610	710	620	740
Williams College	710	760	700	790

Top Schools with Highest 75^th Percentile SAT Scores

We took the 2020 data regarding the combined SAT scores of the 75^th percentile of the students of each college, and this is the list of the colleges and universities with the highest SAT scores:

College/University	SAT 75^th% Scores
1. California Institute of Technology	1580
2. Harvard University	1580
3. Washington University in St Louis	1570
4. Duke University	1570
5. University of Chicago	1570
6. Stanford University	1570
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology	1570
8. Yale University	1570
9. Princeton University	1570
10. Harvey Mudd College	1560
11. Johns Hopkins University	1560
12. Rice University	1560
13. Dartmouth College	1560
14. Vanderbilt University	1560
15. Columbia University in the City of New York	1560
16. Webb Institute	1550
17. University of Notre Dame	1550
18. Swarthmore College	1550
19. University of Pennsylvania	1550
20. Carnegie Mellon University	1550
21. Brown University	1550
22. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering	1550
23. Northwestern University	1550
24. Williams College	1550
25. Cornell University	1540
26. Pomona College	1540
27. Northeastern University	1540
28. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	1540
29. Grinnell College	1530
30. Carleton College	1530
31. University of California-Berkeley	1530
32. Tufts University	1530
33. Amherst College	1530
34. Haverford College	1530
35. University of Southern California	1530
36. Georgetown University	1530
37. Emory University	1520
38. University of California-Los Angeles	1520
39. Wellesley College	1520
40. Case Western Reserve University	1520
41. Jewish Theological Seminary of America	1520
42. Reed College	1520
43. Vassar College	1510
44. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	1510
45. Colgate University	1510
46. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art	1510
47. Colby College	1510
48. New York University	1510
49. Hamilton College	1510
50. Bowdoin College	1510
51. Emory University-Oxford College	1510
52. Barnard College	1500
53. Boston University	1500
54. Macalester College	1500
55. Middlebury College	1500
56. Mount Holyoke College	1500
57. University of Virginia-Main Campus	1500
58. University of Rochester	1500
59. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	1500
60. Claremont McKenna College	1500

Keep in mind that the scores listed here aren’t the average combined SAT scores of the students. These are the scores of the top 75^th percentile, which refers to the top ¼ of the students. The rest of the students were still able to get in these schools, despite having an average or even “low” SAT score (comparatively speaking).

What Is a Good SAT Score Goal for You?

For most students, a combined SAT score of about 1400 is generally considered a “good” SAT score. That is to say, it makes you a competitive applicant in the vast majority of colleges and universities in the US.

In fact, there are plenty of schools (hundreds of them, actually) which will likely accept you if you get an “average” SAT score. That’s a score of about 1050, combining the Reading and Math sections. Some schools are even test-optional, which means you don’t even need an SAT score at all to get accepted.

But if you want to get into a top-ranked school, your SAT score will definitely matter. You’ll need to aim higher. Aiming to be in the 75^th percentile should give you a leg up over the rest of the applicants.

You need to understand that there’s really no pass or fail standard in the SAT. It’s all about getting the highest score you can manage and hoping that your score is higher than the other students.

If you’re still unclear as to what SAT score you should aim for, here are some steps to organize the process for you:

Consider Your Ideal College

It’s not enough that you merely consider the ranking and reputation of a college. You’ll need to check the tuition and other related costs.

Perhaps you prefer a big city vibe, and the mild small-town atmosphere bores you to tears. A climate you are unused to may even be a factor. If you’re interested in playing a sport you’ll want to check out the athletics program.

Consider the whole college experience, and not just the academics.

Check Out the Required SAT Scores

Technically, colleges don’t really have a definitive cutoff score for students to hurdle. It’s just that, at the very least, you’ll want to get the same SAT score as the “average” students in the class.

If you’re aiming to get into one of the top schools, like schools in the Ivy League or similarly ranked schools (Stanford, Caltech, MIT, etc.) then you’ll definitely need a top SAT score. An average score just won’t cut it.

Be realistic when you’re setting your SAT goal. The perfect SAT score of 1600 is rarely achieved, regardless of how hard and how long you may study. At the same time, plenty of good schools can accept you even with a lower SAT score.

Steps for Preparing for the SAT

So how do you prepare for the SAT and set a score to aim for? Here are the steps you ought to take.

Start with picking the right program that suits your skills and your interests. Even if you’re a bit young (such as when you’re a high school junior), you should already have at least a vague idea of which majors will be suitable or unsuitable for you.
Do some research about the best schools that offer that college major. You may want to get into a certain school with a topnotch reputation, but make sure it also has a good reputation for the specific major you are looking at.
Do additional research regarding the average SAT scores of the students of the schools you’re considering. These SAT scores will then provide you with a target SAT score you can aim for.
Study long and hard for the SAT. Do this early, even when you’re not yet a senior. You can try finding the free SAT practice online when you’re a high school junior.
Take the SAT the first time as early as you can. If you give yourself enough time, you can take the SAT a second, or even a third time. The first SAT you take can count as your “practice” test.
After taking the SAT the first time, check your score report. That should give you a better idea of which sections you need to improve.
Try to enroll in a formal SAT prep course if you can. That way, you have a study plan you can follow. You also have the materials you need to study. You can get drills and practice questions to hone your SAT test-taking abilities.
In general, students who take the SAT a second time do better on the second try. There are plenty of reasons for this. You’ve had more time to prepare. Also, you’re not as anxious because you’ll be more familiar with the type of questions you will encounter.

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How to understand your SAT score?

When you take the SAT the first time, your score report can give you a very good idea of your SAT strengths and weaknesses. You need to check this report and identify the areas in which you need to focus more.

The subscore skill areas categorize certain types of skills that the SAT measures. If you don’t do well in a certain subscore skill area, then that’s the area you need to work. These subscore areas are more specific than just the general categories of Reading/Writing and Math.

Heart of Algebra

This area deals with linear equations, linear inequalities, and linear functions. You need to study these math topics more if you get a low score on this particular skill area.

Problem Solving and Data Analysis

These are the problems that tend to involve percentages, ratios, and rates. You’ll need to be able to study tables and scatter points and understand the information the data set is showing you.

Passport to Advanced Math

This time, the skill area includes quadratic equations, nonlinear expressions, and polynomials. The word problems here may involve exponential and quadratic equations. The graphs you need to interpret may involve nonlinear equations. A low score here means you need to boost your familiarity with these more advanced math concepts.

Expression of Ideas

These questions are generally found in the Writing section of the SAT. Usually, a question requires you to pick a word or to change a new sentence structure to improve a certain passage. That change you make should make the passage clearer or more impactful.

Standard English Conventions

These are also normally found in the Writing section. Basically, it tests your command of the English rules of grammar and punctuation. You may be asked about which proper word to use, or about the correct sentence structure.

Words in Context

This is generally found in the Reading and Writing sections. In the Reading section, you may have to give or interpret the meaning of a certain word or phrase. You may also be asked about how your choice of words can change the tone or the style of the passage.

In the Writing section, you may be asked to improve or clarify a sentence by changing a word or adding a new word.

Command of Evidence

This section is also part of Reading and Writing, and this time it’s about how words can be used to present an idea using evidence as support.

In the Reading section, you may be asked to read an article, and then you’ll have to explain how the author’s claims are supported in that article. You may also be asked to present evidence to support one of your previous answers in the test.

In the Writing section, these questions usually require you to enhance how a passage presents ideas and information. You may also be required to explain how an accompanying image is related to the text.

What If I Get a Bad Score?

If you get a bad score when you take the SAT for the first time, you really don’t have to be worried. That’s basically a practice test. It identifies the areas you need to work on more when you prepare for the next SAT.

That’s what you have to do—prepare. If you studied on your own the first time and got a lower score than you expected, you may want to consider getting into an SAT prep course.

If you still get a “bad” score after a lot of serious studying and preparation, it’s still not the end of the world. You may still be able to get into the school of your choice. You just have to emphasize other aspects of your college application that compensates for your “bad” SAT score. You may want to highlight your GPA or relate your personal story to demonstrate how you’ve overcome adversity.

You may also want to redefine what a “bad” score really is. Your SAT score may not be high enough to help you get into your first college choice, but it may help you get into your alternate choices. Plenty of community colleges are perfectly okay with “bad” SAT scores.

Conclusion

It’s true that the world won’t end if you get an SAT score that’s lower than what you were hoping to get. At the same time, it’s crucial that you realize just how important the SAT is. A high score can help you get into the school you want, while a low score can be a hindrance.

In the end, it’s all about preparing for the SAT. Prepare for the SAT as best you can, on your own or with the help of a prep course.

What is a Good SAT Score in 2024? How much you need to score?