What Is a Good SAT Score?

• A strong SAT score can raise your chances of getting into a particular college.
• While there's no standard for a “good” SAT score, it's best to aim for a score of at least 1200.
• More importantly, aim for an SAT score that's within or higher than the middle 50% of scores achieved by admitted students to our school.
• Figure out which method of studying best suits your needs: self-study, SAT courses, or private tutoring.

For many students, getting into college requires more than just good grades and a compelling personal statement — it also helps to have strong test scores.

Like the ACT, the SAT is a popular college entrance exam in the U.S. While there's no score you need to achieve in order to pass the test, a higher SAT score can increase your chances of getting into college.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools have adopted test-optional policies, meaning they do not require SAT/ACT scores for admission. Check with your target schools to see if they require or recommend applicants send in standardized test scores before sitting for an exam.

If you do need to take a standardized test, what SAT score should you aim for? And what counts as a “good” SAT score?

What Is a Good SAT Score Overall?

The median total SAT score is 1030. In general, any SAT score above the 50th percentile, or median, can be considered a decent score, since this means you've performed better than the majority of test-takers.

Scoring in the 50th percentile, however, won't cut it at most selective colleges. The standard for a good SAT score increases considerably depending on how competitive the applicant pool is. This is why it's typically better to aim for at least the 75th percentile, or a 1200 or higher.

According to test prep expert Ben Paris, there are two important ways that an SAT/ACT score can be “good.”

First, it can be strong enough to help you gain admission into your target colleges. To see if that's true for you, look up the scores of admitted students at your target schools and see how your score compares, said Paris.

Second, your score can be ‘good’ if it's close to the best you can do, he continued. To know what you can reach, you need expert advice, feedback on how you're doing, and lots of practice.

SAT Score Percentiles

Percentiles can be used to see how well you did compared with other test-takers. Refer to the following percentile charts to see what constitutes a good SAT score. Note that the percentile rankings for scores may change slightly from year to year.

Your SAT score, which ranges from 400-1600, is the sum of your two section scores: Math and Reading and Writing. Each section uses a scale of 200-800 in 10-point increments. A good score on Math or Reading and Writing, then, would be around 600.

What Is a Good SAT Score Based on Your Schools?

To raise your chances of getting accepted to a particular college, aim for an SAT score that's around that of the typical enrolled applicant. In other words, if the average first-year student earned a 1300, then you, too, should try to get at least a 1300.

To figure out what to aim for, find the middle 50% of scores for each school you're applying to. The middle 50% is a range between the 25th and 75th percentiles. Your goal should be to earn a score around your school's 75th percentile. If that's too difficult, aim for higher than the 25th percentile score (though know that your application may be less impressive).

Many colleges provide SAT stats on their websites. You can either search online for the school's name and the phrase SAT score range or look for a first-year class profile page or a general facts and figures page.

Say you're applying to Emory University. Emory's class profile page lists the middle 50% of SAT Math and Reading and Writing scores for the class of 2027. Based on this data, you know to aim for around 770 on Reading and Writing and 790 on Math — both incredibly high scores.

The exact SAT score you should aim for will vary depending on the colleges you apply to. Less selective institutions admit applicants with SAT scores closer to the national median, whereas highly selective universities often prefer scores in the 1400-1600 range.

Good SAT Scores for 15 Popular Colleges

The table below presents the middle 50% of enrolled students' SAT scores at 15 well-known colleges and universities. All data is for the class of 2026 or 2027.

Note that many of these schools are now test-optional, and a large portion of applicants may have chosen not to submit their scores. For Miami University, for example, just over half — 58% — of students chose to send in their ACT or SAT scores for admission.

What Is a Good SAT Essay Score?

The SAT used to offer an optional essay. In 2021, however, the College Board announced it would no longer offer the SAT essay. The only exception to this policy is if your state requires the SAT, in which case you may need to take the essay on an SAT School Day.

Even though colleges can't require the SAT essay anymore, some students taking the SAT on a school day may be interested in getting a good essay score for their own satisfaction. The SAT essay is scored separately from Math and Reading and Writing. You'll get 50 minutes to write an essay that analyzes the author's claims and argument in a given passage.

Two graders will read your essay and assign you a score on a scale of 1-4 in three categories: Reading, Analysis, and Writing. The total score range is 2-8 for each category. A perfect SAT essay score would be three 8's — that's a 4 from both graders in all three categories.

Expert Advice: How to Improve SAT Scores Q&A

Test prep expert Ben Paris answers more questions regarding standardized testing, including what score you should aim for and strategies on how to get there.

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Q: What's your advice for getting into an Ivy League school?

A: Great grades are required, but they aren't enough, because so many people have flawless GPAs. Think about what will make your application stand out. Test scores could be a part of that story.

Nowadays, lots of people aren't submitting scores that would help them, and others aren't putting in the work for top scores because they think that “test-optional” means that tests don't matter. They do.

More of the Ivies are requiring scores, and people who don't submit scores are sending the message that their scores are low. Instead of viewing the SAT/ACT as a barrier that will keep you out of college, think of it as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from your competition.

Q: How long should I study for the SAT to get my best score?

A: For most people, 1-3 months is enough if you're really taking it seriously. Imagine that it's another academic class that you're taking in terms of time commitment. Try to focus your prep instead of doing a tiny bit at a time.

Most of the people who spend six months or more prepping could have done it in much less time if they got organized.

Q: What are my next steps?

A: First, figure out if the SAT or ACT is better for you. Either is fine. Colleges don't prefer one or the other. Take a practice test in each (make sure that it's an official one) and then analyze your results to make a decision. Then pick a test date that allows you to put in the work.

Finally, figure out how to get advice. Self-study is cheaper but not really personalized. Classes give you lots of time with a teacher, but you'll be in a class with others, and the schedule might not always work for you.

Private tutoring is the most expensive per hour, but you can often spend less time because it's all about you and your needs.