FlyingMindsWhat Is a Good SAT Score?
The SAT is scored from 400 to 1600, and the national average is about 1050. So anything above ~1050 is above average. But the most useful answer is this: a good SAT score is one at or above the middle-50% range of the colleges you're applying to. "Good" is always relative to your goal.
How the SAT is scored
Your total score is the sum of two sections, each scored from 200 to 800:
- Reading & Writing — 200 to 800
- Math — 200 to 800
Add them for a total between 400 and 1600. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so it always pays to answer every question.
SAT score percentiles (approximate)
A percentile tells you the share of test takers you scored higher than. These are approximate and shift slightly year to year:
| Total score | Approx. percentile | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1500+ | ~99th | Top ~1% of test takers |
| 1400 | ~94th | Top ~6% |
| 1350 | ~91st | Top ~9% |
| 1200 | ~74th | Higher than ~3 in 4 test takers |
| 1050 | ~50th | About the national average |
| 900 | ~28th | Below average |
Percentiles are approximate and based on nationally representative data; the College Board publishes exact figures each year.
What counts as "good" for your goal
| Your goal | A good score is roughly |
|---|---|
| Beat the national average | 1050+ |
| Competitive at many universities | 1200+ |
| Strong for selective schools | 1350+ |
| Highly selective / top programs | 1500+ |
These are general guideposts. The real target is set by your list: look up each college's admitted middle-50% SAT range (published in its Common Data Set and admissions pages). Land at or above the top of that range and you're in strong shape; near the middle and you're competitive.
Improve, skill by skill
The fastest way up isn't grinding full tests — it's fixing the specific reading, writing, and math skills costing you points. FlyingMinds teaches each SAT skill with practice and an explanation on every question.
Start SAT prep — $29/mo Try a free SAT/ACT demoHow to raise an SAT score
1. Diagnose your weakest skills
Find the two or three skills losing you the most points and fix those first. A targeted hour beats a blind full test.
2. Learn the rule, then drill it
Grammar and math especially reward a rule-first approach: learn the rule once and a whole category of questions becomes automatic.
3. Review every miss with a reason
An explanation turns a wrong answer into a skill you keep. Reviewing why matters more than doing more questions.
4. Build test-day stamina
Once your skills are solid, take timed full-length practice so the real test feels familiar.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good SAT score?
Above ~1050 is above average; ~1200+ is competitive; ~1350+ is strong for selective schools; ~1500+ is top few percent. Best of all: at or above your target colleges' middle-50% range.
What is the average SAT score?
Around 1050 out of 1600, split between Reading & Writing and Math (each 200–800). It shifts slightly year to year.
Is 1200 a good SAT score?
Yes — near the 75th percentile, higher than about three-quarters of test takers, and competitive at many universities.
How do I know if my score is good enough for a specific college?
Compare it to that college's admitted middle-50% SAT range. At or above the top is strong; near the middle is competitive.