What should i score on the sat

Not all colleges require SAT scores, so check that your target schools require or recommend taking the exam before you sit for it. 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 or higher. Each section uses a scale of in point increments.

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. 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 , then you too should try to get at least 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. But remember 3 things:.

Now we get to answer that third question mentioned in the intro to this post: What do I need to do to get a good SAT score? Take a diagnostic SAT practice test to pinpoint where your skills currently lie. In fact, this is the first thing we have our students do when they sign up for any PrepMaven SAT test prep program.

A benchmark set of SAT scores is essential for creating reasonable goals. And reasonable goals are critical for reaching your target SAT score.

Some students are better suited for the ACT, the other standardized test used in college admissions. But they are also vastly different in others. To see which test is right for you, ask these 5 questions now.

We can also help students figure out which test to pursue in a free test prep consultation. Most high school students solidify their college lists the summer or fall of their senior years. However, to truly know what a good SAT score looks like for you, a general college list is essential. This list can help you identify ballpark SAT score ranges for competitive entry, which we talk about in the next step. We recommend choosing 3 tiers of schools, arranged as follows, and at least 2 schools for each of these tiers total of 6 :.

Of course, students will want to keep building this college list as they progress with their SAT test prep. For now, however, a general list of at least 6 schools will be sufficient to get to the next step. You have a few resources for this:. Fordham does specify test score ranges on its website not all colleges do this :. SAT test prep without a target score is like a ship without a rudder. A target SAT score is essential for 2 things:.

A superscore is a combination of your highest score on each section across every SAT you take. Therefore, instead of using your scores from only one date, certain schools combine your highest section score across all dates and create your highest possible composite score!

Ultra-competitive universities accept applicants with near-perfect SAT scores because those applicants have demonstrated their eagerness to take on highly demanding and rigorous coursework. Your college experience is the sum of many parts, only one of which is the classwork.

Thanks to the holistic US application system, admissions officers will often look past sub-par test scores if the rest of the application shines.

Now that you know the ins and outs of SAT scores and what might make a good SAT score for you personally, you may want to visit any of these other Crimson blogs for a deeper dive into acing your SATs:. A good SAT score can hold a lot of weight when it comes time to apply to universities, so it's important to understand how the test is scored, what a good score is for you, what score you'll need to get into different schools, and how to improve your score if it's not quite where you want it to be.

Well, at least admissions officers do. So, before you get your scores back, remember these numbers: is the new perfect score to aim for. There are only two sections. There's no way to get a score of 0. SAT Composite Score vs. So, overall — what's a good SAT score?

It depends. Want to be a top applicant at the best universities in the world? Crimson students are up to 4x more likely to gain admission to world-leading universities than students who apply on their own. Learn More. SAT vs. ACT: What's the difference and which test should you take? Our Services Admissions Support.

That school may be a longshot though still possible with some SAT prep! Do your scores fall well within the school's average range? That college or university could be a match! The scores you see are your goals to set — and, ideally, the ones to beat. Remember that the higher you can score, the more likely you are to make yourself eligible for merit-based aid.

Unless you earned a perfect SAT score, you can always improve your score. Find out your baseline , and then see how it compares to typical scores at your target schools. While colleges consider a lot of factors when they make admissions decisions, standardized test scores are an important piece of your college application.

Higher scores mean more college options for you. A good SAT score can also help you snag additional merit scholarship money — even at test-optional schools. Connect with our featured colleges to find schools that both match your interests and are looking for students like you.