The average SAT score is 1029 out of 1600, based on the most recent data from the College Board. That breaks down to 521 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and 508 on the Math section. Whether that number matters to you depends on where you’re applying and what kind of financial aid you’re hoping to receive.
How the SAT Is Scored
The SAT has two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) and Math. Each section is scored on a scale from 200 to 800, and those two scores are added together for your total, which ranges from 400 to 1600. A “perfect” score is 1600, though only a tiny fraction of test-takers ever reach it.
The national average of 1029 sits just below the midpoint of the 400-to-1600 range. That means most students are clustered around the middle, with scores fanning out above and below. If you scored a 1029, roughly half of all test-takers scored higher than you and half scored lower.
What Percentiles Tell You
Your raw score matters less than where it places you relative to other students, which is what a percentile measures. A score at the 75th percentile means you outperformed 75% of test-takers. Here’s how the scale looks at key benchmarks:
- 50th percentile (roughly average): Around 1030, right in line with the national mean.
- 75th percentile: Approximately 1160. Scoring here puts you ahead of three out of four students.
- 90th percentile: Approximately 1290. Only one in ten test-takers scores this high or above.
These percentiles help you gauge competitiveness for specific schools. A 1160 might be well above average nationally but still below the middle of the range at a highly selective university. Conversely, that same score could earn you merit scholarships at schools where the typical admitted student scores closer to the national average.
What Counts as a “Good” Score
A good SAT score is one that gets you into the schools you want with the financial aid you need. That sounds vague, but it’s genuinely the most useful way to think about it. A 1200 is a strong score for a student applying to moderately selective state universities. It would be on the low end for Ivy League applicants.
Most colleges publish the middle 50% range of SAT scores for their admitted students. This range shows you the score at the 25th percentile and the 75th percentile of the incoming class. If your score falls within or above that range, you’re competitive for admission at that school. If you’re below the 25th percentile mark, the SAT could work against your application, though other factors like GPA, extracurriculars, and essays still matter.
For broadly selective schools (those that admit 50% or more of applicants), scoring above 1100 typically puts you in solid standing. For schools that admit fewer than 20% of applicants, you’ll generally want a score north of 1400 to be competitive.
How the Average Breaks Down by Section
The gap between the average ERW score (521) and the average Math score (508) is small but consistent: students tend to score slightly higher on the reading and writing portion. This pattern holds across most test-taking years. If your own scores show a similar gap, that’s normal. If one section is significantly lower than the other, it signals where targeted studying could raise your total score the most.
Colleges that “superscore” will take your highest ERW score from one sitting and your highest Math score from another, combining them into the best possible total. If you plan to take the SAT more than once, you can focus your prep on the weaker section each time, knowing those lower scores won’t drag down your superscore.
How Many Points Separate You from the Next Tier
One useful way to think about SAT scores is in terms of the effort needed to move between percentile tiers. Going from the 50th percentile (around 1030) to the 75th (around 1160) requires roughly a 130-point improvement. That’s achievable with a few months of consistent practice for most students. Jumping from the 75th to the 90th percentile (around 1290) takes another 130 points, but those gains are harder to come by because you’re already answering most questions correctly and the remaining improvements come from eliminating small, specific weaknesses.
Free prep resources from Khan Academy, which partners directly with the College Board, cover the full range of question types on the current digital SAT. Students who use these tools for 6 to 20 hours tend to see meaningful score increases, particularly if they focus on their weakest question categories rather than reviewing material they already know well.
Test-Optional Policies and When Scores Still Matter
Hundreds of colleges adopted test-optional admissions policies during the pandemic, and many have kept them. At these schools, you can choose whether to submit SAT scores. If your score is above the school’s published middle 50% range, submitting it strengthens your application. If it’s below, leaving it off is usually the smarter move.
Even at test-optional schools, SAT scores can still influence merit scholarship decisions. Many automatic scholarship grids are built around GPA and test score combinations. A student with a 1200 and a 3.8 GPA might qualify for a renewable scholarship worth thousands of dollars per year at schools where the average admitted score is closer to 1050. Checking each school’s scholarship criteria before deciding whether to submit is worth the few minutes it takes.