Understanding Your Score
What score should I aim for?
The SAT gives you a percentile ranking for your overall score (out of 1600) as well as for each of the two sections: Evidence Based Reading and Writing, and Math. Your percentile rank tells you how you did on the SAT compared to other test-takers. For example, if you have a percentile ranking of 90, it means that you scored higher than 90% of other students who took that test.
For most competitive universities, we recommend trying to score at least within the 90th percentile.
| Composite Score Range | Percentile Ranking |
|---|---|
| 1550 - 1600 | 99+ |
| 1500 - 1550 | 99 to 99+ |
| 1450 - 1500 | 97 to 99 |
| 1400 - 1450 | 94 to 97 |
| 1350 - 1400 | 91 to 94 |
| 1300 - 1350 | 87 to 91 |
| 1250 - 1300 | 81 to 87 |
| 1200 - 1250 | 74 to 81 |
| 1150 - 1200 | 67 to 74 |
| 1100 - 1150 | 58 to 67 |
| 1050 - 1100 | 49 to 58 |
| 1000 - 1050 | 39 to 49 |
Understanding Your Score
What are Section Score Percentiles?
The SAT gives you a percentile ranking for your overall composite score as well as for each of the two section scores: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math.
Here, this student scored 800 for Evidence Based Reading and Writing, placing them in the 99th percentile – that is, they did better than 99% of test-takers.
They scored 750 on the Math Section, placing them in the 96th percentile, meaning that they scored higher than 96% of test-takers.
- Score Percentiles
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Understanding Your Score
What score should I aim for?
The SAT gives you a percentile ranking for your overall score (out of 1600) as well as for each of the two sections: Evidence Based Reading and Writing, and Math. Your percentile rank tells you how you did on the SAT compared to other test-takers. For example, if you have a percentile ranking of 90, it means that you scored higher than 90% of other students who took that test.
For most competitive universities, we recommend trying to score at least within the 90th percentile.
Composite Score Range Percentile Ranking 1550 - 1600 99+ 1500 - 1550 99 to 99+ 1450 - 1500 97 to 99 1400 - 1450 94 to 97 1350 - 1400 91 to 94 1300 - 1350 87 to 91 1250 - 1300 81 to 87 1200 - 1250 74 to 81 1150 - 1200 67 to 74 1100 - 1150 58 to 67 1050 - 1100 49 to 58 1000 - 1050 39 to 49 - Section Percentiles
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Understanding Your Score
What are Section Score Percentiles?
The SAT gives you a percentile ranking for your overall composite score as well as for each of the two section scores: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math.
Here, this student scored 800 for Evidence Based Reading and Writing, placing them in the 99th percentile – that is, they did better than 99% of test-takers.
They scored 750 on the Math Section, placing them in the 96th percentile, meaning that they scored higher than 96% of test-takers.