Table of Contents

1. How Does the SAT Scoring Work?

2. What is the Average SAT Score?

3. What Is a Perfect SAT Score?

4. How to Register for SAT Online?

Your total SAT score ranges from 400 to 1600, with each of the two section scores ranging from 200 to 800. One part is Math, and the other is Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.

However, knowing how the SAT scoring works can help with your exam preparation. The higher your score for the SAT scoring system, the better you performed compared to the other exam participants. Is there; however, a specific SAT score threshold that defines a “good” score?

To figure out what makes for good SAT results compared to others, you must first understand how SAT scoring works. A percentile rating correlated to your total score out of 1600 (and your two section scores out of 800). Your SAT percentile indicates the percentage of students who scored the same as or higher than you on the SAT.

The SAT composite score average is 1051. It’s worth noting that the test is intentionally constructed to have a mean score of around 1000 on a 1600-point scale—roughly 500 on each part. The average Math score is 528, while the average EBRW score is 523.

SAT scores are averages distributed. Therefore, student achievement is likely to cluster at the center of the scale (the halfway point between the minimum score of 400 and the maximum score of 1600).

Here’s an abbreviated SAT score chart for SAT test performance with percentiles so you can see how the scores are distributed for yourself:

The percentiles and following scores show that more students score in the middle range compared to the top or bottom.

This chart shows that 1050 is approximately average; therefore, anything higher than that is an above-average score. Getting a 1250 score puts you in the 81st percentile, or the top fifth percentile of test-takers, which is excellent. Also, getting a 1350 score places you in the top 10% of all test takers, indicating a strong score. A score of 1400 places you in the 94th percentile or the top 6% of all the test participants. Any score of 1500 or higher puts you in the prestigious top 2%.

Once you determine when you’ll be taking the SAT Exam, try to register for it. If you delay until the last second before registering, there may not be any available slots in the testing locations surrounding you.

So far, we’ve spoken about how your SAT score and percentile rating demonstrate how you performed against other test-takers. However, how well you performed compared to others isn’t the most significant factor for you. What matters most is what represents a high SAT score for you, depending on the schools you’re considering.

For less selective universities like Indiana University Northwest, a performance of 1040 (slightly below the 1050 average) is acceptable. To summarize, a good SAT score is one that qualifies you for admission to the institutions of your choice. It’s also important to remember that the higher your test scores are, the higher your chances of receiving a merit scholarship from a college.