Perfect SAT scores: how common?

Hey guys, I'm curious about how many students actually manage to get a perfect SAT score. Does anyone have any statistics on that?

Hello! While it's difficult to pinpoint the exact number of students who achieve a perfect SAT score each year, it's safe to say that it's a fairly rare feat. The digital SAT, as of Spring 2024, has a maximum score of 1600, which includes 800 points for the Reading and Writing section and 800 points for the Math section.

Historically, less than 1% of test-takers would score a perfect 1600. In some years, this percentage would be as low as 0.02%. To put that into perspective, let's say around 2 million students take the SAT every year. With a 0.02% perfect score rate, that would translate to around 400 students achieving a perfect 1600.

That being said, these numbers are not fixed and may vary a little each year, so they should be taken as rough estimates. Even though achieving such a high score is rare, it's important to remember that many colleges use a holistic review process, and other factors—such as extracurricular involvement, essays, recommendation letters, and GPA—play critical roles in the admission decision.