What SAT score do you need?
There is no pass mark. Every college publishes the range its admitted students scored, and that range is what your target should be built from. Here is how the ranges fall across the US.
Always check each college's own figures
By kind of college
Middle 50% ranges of admitted students who submitted scores, rounded. Aim for the top of the range for the schools you most want.
| College tier | Typical middle 50% | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Open and broad accessCommunity colleges, many regional universities | Not required, or roughly 900–1100 | Scores are often optional here, but a good one can still unlock placement out of remedial courses and local scholarships. |
| Moderately selectiveMost state universities and many private colleges | Roughly 1050–1250 | The largest group. A score toward the top of the range strengthens an application and is often tied to merit aid. |
| SelectiveState flagships, well-known private universities | Roughly 1200–1400 | Scores are one factor among grades, course rigor and essays — but landing inside or above the middle range matters. |
| Highly selectiveTop public and private research universities | Roughly 1350–1500 | Most admitted students who submit scores are in the top 10% of test takers. |
| Most selectiveIvy League and similar | Roughly 1470–1570 | The middle range is near the top of the scale; a score is necessary here, never sufficient. |
What each score range means
Approximate national standing, from College Board's published percentiles. Every section is scored 200–800, and the total 400–1600.
- 1500–1600Top 2% of test takers. Competitive anywhere.
- 1400–1490Top 5–6%. Competitive at highly selective schools.
- 1300–1390Top 15%. Strong for selective universities.
- 1200–1290Top quarter. Above average almost everywhere.
- 1050–1190Around and above the national middle.
- Below 1050Below the national middle — the range where focused practice moves scores fastest.
College Board's readiness benchmarks
College Board publishes a benchmark for each section: the score associated with a strong chance of passing a first-year college course in that subject. They are a floor, not a target, for anyone applying to a four-year college.
Common questions
- What is a good SAT score?
- It depends on where you are applying. Nationally, a total a little over 1000 is about the middle. Around 1200 puts you in roughly the top quarter, 1400 in about the top 5%, and 1500 in about the top 2%. What matters most is how your score compares with the middle 50% range of admitted students at each school on your list.
- What does the middle 50% range mean?
- Colleges publish the 25th and 75th percentile scores of students they admitted. A quarter of admitted students scored below the lower number and a quarter above the higher one. Landing inside the range makes your score typical for that school; above it, your score is a strength.
- What is superscoring?
- Many colleges take your highest Reading and Writing score and your highest Math score, even if they came from different test dates, and add them together. It makes a second or third attempt lower-risk: a weak section on one day does not cancel a strong one on another. Policies differ, so check each school.
- Should I submit my SAT score to a test-optional college?
- A useful rule of thumb: submit if your score is at or above the school's middle 50% range, and consider holding it back if it is well below. Some scholarships and honors programs still ask for scores even at test-optional schools.
- How many times can I take the SAT?
- As many times as you like; College Board sets no limit. Most students sit it two or three times, and scores usually rise most between the first and second attempt.
Find out where you actually stand
A target is only useful once you know your starting point. Sit a full-length timed test and get an estimated score you can compare with the ranges above.
Not sure how the exam is structured? Read the format guide.